Aviva Premiership: Harlequins 39-39 Gloucester
By Louise Warr
Last Updated: 28/12/15 10:13am
Harlequins and Gloucester entertained the 'Big Game 8' Twickenham crowd with a 39-39 10-try thriller.
Marland Yarde, Danny Care, Nick Easter and Ross Chisolm (2) all crossed for Harlequins with Jeremy Thrush, James Hook, Henry Trinder (2) and Rob Cook replying for Gloucester in a topsy-turvy encounter.
Chisholm's second try came in the 76th minutes, and the Nick Evans conversion set up a nervy end to the game for both sides.
Quins were deep in the opposition half with seconds remaining, but Evans sent his drop goal centimetres to the right of the post.
Jamie Roberts caught the eye in his first Premiership start since making the switch to Harlequins, while Gloucester suffered a double blow in the draw losing both Jonny May and Trinder to leg injuries in the second-half.
Despite their limited possession in the opening minutes, Gloucester were gifted the perfect start when Jeremy Thrush crossed for the first try of the game after just six minutes.
A fumbled high ball from Mike Brown sent possession the way of the cherry and whites, the former All Black lock hacked the loose ball ahead before rounding off the move with a deceptive turn of speed.
Evans opened the Harlequins account on 12 minutes kicking a penalty before Yarde crossed in acres of space after a direct run from Roberts sucked in the Gloucester defence.
Greig Laidlaw nudged his side back in front following a Harlequins infringement at the breakdown before Hook broke away against the run of play, providing Gloucester with their second try of the afternoon.
Harlequins hit back immediately when Danny Care darted under Gloucester full-back Rob Cook to dot down at the foot at the posts, giving Gloucester a narrow 15-17 advantage at the break.
Gloucester were dealt a blow early in the second half when winger May was helped from the field after staying down following a sliced clearance kick, a sorry sight for Eddie Jones with his first squad announced in just over two weeks' time.
Gloucester's ability to feed off scraps continued in their favour as they scored their third try against the run of play when Trinder latched on to a floated Harlequins pass, racing for 80 metres to score.
Quins once again fired their response almost immediately, scoring two tries in quick succession through Easter and Chilsom, handing the home side a four-try bonus point.
Harlequins' attacking principles became their downfall once again moments later when a wayward pass landed into the arms of Trinder, who hobbled over with a pulled hamstring to score his second, leaving the field shortly after.
Laidlaw's boot provided a further three points for Gloucester, a lead that was further extended by Rob Cook's individual brilliance in attack leaving the Harlequins defence in disarray as he secured the Cherry and Whites' fifth try of the afternoon.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Nick Evans' boot kicked Connor O'Shea's side within three before Richard Hibbard saw yellow for collapsing a driving maul.
Chilsom crossed for his second of the match on 76th minute, making the most of the space provided by the extra man, with Evans kicking the touchline conversion to level the game up.
Evans looked to snatch victory in the dying seconds of the match lining up a drop goal but the attempt from the Kiwi fly-half drifted wide, leaving the Twickenham epic to drift into a 39-39 draw.
