Powell puts Harlequins into cruise control

■By FRANKIE DRAPER

HARLEQUINS secured a bonus-point victory over Leicester Tigers in their final league game of the season to send Jade Konkel and Laura Delgado into retirement in the best way possible.

Quins miss out on the play-offs, sitting fifth in the table.

A fast start saw Lucy Packer race over after the backs combined, before Freya Aucken profited from a wonderful pass from star player Kayleigh Powell to fly over for a second.

Leicester T ………29pts

Tries: Günter 21, Pickwick 35, McCalman 60, 78 Conversions: Bitter 36, 60, 79 Penalty: Bitter 7

Tigers added a penalty, before Quins crashed over for a third through Lizzie Hanlon.

Ella Cromack then added a quick-fire bonus point score, before Micke Gunter responded for Leicester.

Harlequins ……….50pts

Tries: Packer 2, Aucken 9, Hanlon 12, Cromack 15, 49; C Powell 25, K Powell 31, Meuller 55 Conversions: Cromack 2, 13, 16, 25, 55

Quins kept their foot to the floor, with Connie Powell spotting a gap and dotting down, then Kayleigh Powell raced away very much Harlequins’ day for the sixth of the first half.

Leicester added a second through Zara Pick-wick, but Quins continued to build in the second half. Cromack added her second, before Maja Meuller crashed over off the bench.

Lagi Tuima departed the field for Izzy Mayhew and Delgado came onto the pitch for her final appearance in the Quarters. Jemima McCalman scored Leicester’s third.

Tigers had the final say, with McCalman adding her second, but this was

Quins head coach Ross Chisholm said: “We’re really pleased to send the departing and retiring players off in fashion. That was a performance that we wanted to find today in front of another amazing crowd. We need to be honest that we have fallen short this season, but we are pleased to have found our form and ended the campaign on a high.”

REFEREE: Nicki O’Donnell ATTENDANCE: 1,612

Star player

Kayleigh Powell – Harlequins