HARLEQUINS, written off by most rugby league fans before the start of the season after a limited recruitment campaign, continued their impressive form with a comprehensive win over Hull KR. Head coach Brian McDermott remarked at the start of the season that the league table would only start to gain significance after 10 games and with that number up, the former Bradford prop must be delighted with a return of six wins.

Harlequins and Hull are part of a throng of clubs chasing leaders Leeds Rhinos with a playoff place the minimum ambition, however yesterday’s win hauled the Londoners up to joint second in the table before Leeds and Wigan met last night.

Harlequins were without the influential overseas duo of Mark McLinden and Scott Hill, but welcomed back former Great Britain prop Danny Ward after suspension. Hull, who welcomed back the evergreen Stanley Gene after a one-match ban, began the day just a point behind their opponents on nine points, but after a scoreless first quarter, never looked like gaining the victory.

An absorbing first half was dominated by the home side who combined steely defence with attacking verve to open up an 18-0 interval lead. Harlequins opened their account when stand-in full-back Jon Wells soared above a host of Rovers players to collect Danny Orr’s chip over the top. Henry Paul converted.

Quins extended their lead on 23 minutes. A scintillating 50-metre break from winger Rikki Sheriffe, which saw him evade a host of would-be defenders, set up the position. Three tackles later, captain Rob Purdham spotted a gap from acting half and plunged over. Paul then added a penalty from 40 metres out after Hull KR were penalised for holding down.

Half-back Danny Orr created the third try with a stepping run through the middle before drawing Hull full-back Shaun Briscoe to feed Matt Gafa. Gafa was ankle-tapped by Ben Cockayne but regained both his composure and balance to step inside Chev Walker to score. Paul added his third goal.

Rovers’ troubles were summed up when Paul Cooke tried to grubber his way through the Quins defence deep in his own half but succeeded only in delivering the ball into the arms of Wells.

Chris Melling was the next to breach the Rovers line, only for Briscoe to deny the substitute with a superb last-ditch tackle. Paul missed a penalty attempt on the hooter after Cockayne was penalised for holding down.

Hull’s second half response was immediate. Winger Tony Clubb failed to deal with James Webster’s kick, allowing it to bounce off his shoulder. Hull regained possession, the ball was quickly shipped right and Cockayne sliced between two defenders to go over. Cooke landed a touchline conversion as the rain started.

Paul relived his rugby union days with a neat drop goal to give Quins a 13-point cushion. Clubb, whose fragility under the high ball was increasingly targeted by playmakers Cooke and Webster, was lucky to escape when another high kick went straight through his arms, only to find Wells recovering the situation. Joe Mbu broke down the left but his attempted pass found only the touch judge before Briscoe pulled off another stunning tackle when Karl Temata was held up over the

line. The Hull dam broke when Gafa grabbed his second try with 14 minutes.

Hull mounted a brief comeback with tries in five minutes. Cockayne gained a second, winning the race to Cooke’s kick through before substitute Kirk Netherton spotted a gap in the Quins defence and crossed from close range. However, Quins finally extinguished Hull’s hopes when Sheriffe grabbed two late tries, one after Gafa’s brilliant pass and then another from a powerful run from 50 meters.

Star man: Matt Gafa(Harlequins)

Harlequins:J Wells, T Clubb, M Gafa, D Howell, R Sheriffe, H Paul, D Orr, K Temata ( 21min), C Randall (J Rinaldi 35min), D Ward (J Grayshon 30min), J Mbu (C Melling 29min), M Worrincy, R Purdham.

Hull KR:S Briscoe, P Fox, B Cockayne, C Walker, D Fitzhenry, P Cooke, J Webster, D Mills (S Gene 21min), B Fisher (K Netherton 47min), M Vella (G Crossman 20min), C Newton (C l’Anson 59min), R Lovegrove, B Galea.

Scorers: Harlequins: Tries:Wells, Purdham, Gafa, (2), Sheriffe (2) Goals: Paul (5) DG:Paul Hull KR: Tries:Cockayne (2), Netherton Goals:Cooke (2)

Referee:I Smith Attendance:4,546