Bath fume at Irne’s short time in the bin
Harlequins ………………….. 40pts
Tries: Estherhuizen 2, 48; Smith 14, Lynagh 23, Dombrandt 29, Evans 38
Conversions: Smith 3, 14, 25, 40, 49
Bath ……………………………… 36pts
Tries: Muir 51, Barbeary 63, Schreuder 67, McConnochie 71, Stooke 75
Conversions: Russell 64, 67, 71, 76
Penalties: Russell 11
MARCUS Smith and Harlequins just edged this crazy game and moved into the play-off spots but there could be repercussions following a yellow card storm.
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has filed a complaint with the RFU head of match officials Paul Hull about Irne Herbst's second half sinbinning as his side were mounting a comeback.
The visitors were rallying from 40-3 down after 50 minutes with five second half tries and in the middle of the carnage lock Herbst was yellow carded in the 64th minute.
Amazingly, he served less than 10 minutes on the sidelines and reappeared in the 71st minute, only to be part of a try-saving tackle on Bath wing Will Muir as his team were in the middle of an astonishing revival.
Harlequins could be fined but sanctions remain unclear and it will rumble into next week but it could cost Bath, who went up to second with two bonus points, dear in the long run.
Van Graan said: “I flagged it with the referee after the game but there is not a lot he can do on the pitch, he wasn't even aware of it. We made the fourth official aware, it was a massive call in the context of the game with the player that came back on making the tackle in the corner. With a yellow card you are supposed to be off for 10 minutes not seven. It is going to go to Paul Hull and I will let the process follow its course.”
Smith was imperious for those 50 minutes, this game should have been over with half an hour left before Quins started to commit suicide. After scoring six tries, they conceded five with wing Will Muir, back row Alfie Barbeary, replacement scrum-half Louis Schreuder, Elliot Stooke and Ruaridh McConnochie all scoring. Harlequins had lost Louis Lynagh and Herbst to the bin and Bath took advantage but it was typical of Quins to play so thrillingly then to completely take their eye off the ball with the game at their mercy.
And it was typical of Bath this season to not allow Quins to get off the hook until the end. Smith scored one classic first-half try with a chip and chase when a drop goal or a cross kick were on and he proved his well-being after a frustrating Six Nations personally. His link with Danny Care gave Quins a foothold in the game before they nearly chucked it away.
Young prop Fin Baxter had put in a massive defensive display before he was replaced on the hour just as Harlequins started to collapse.
Centre Andre Esterhuizen went over after a flat pass from Care to get Quins up and running on two minutes and Smith got the second when he hoodwinked the Bath defence and they were in control for 50 minutes with further tries from Alex Dombrandt, Louis Lynagh and Will Evans to lead 33-3 at half-time.
Bath threw on Barbeary on 47 minutes to give themselves some physicality but Esterhuizen, on his 30th birthday, was gifted his second score by his team-mates as Bath were ripped open yet again and it looked like a cricket score was on the cards.
But then Finn Russell, who was quiet for the first half, got his mojo back and got Bath zipping. It was nervy stuff for Harlequins who got home, just – but this game should have been in the bag long before the final whistle.
