Harlequins Rugby Union were unable prevent a defeat in the hands of Northampton. Harlequins Rugby Union lost the match 16-20 to Northampton. Saints took a 13-point lead through a Chris Ashton try and eight points from the boot of Shane Geraghty before Nick Evans pulled three points back.

Quins took the lead after the interval with another two Evans penalties and a converted George Lowe try. But the visitors replied with a try from skipper Dylan Hartley, converted by Geraghty, to secure the win.

The result left Quins still searching for their first win of the season while it was Saints’ first Premiership win at The Stoop for six years. The visitors were dominant up front in the first half and deservedly scored the opening try when winger Ashton raced on to a kick through from James Downey.

It was a different Quins side that emerged after the interval, with the backs producing far more urgency and two more Evans penalties brought them back in touch.

Harlequins only drew with Wasps in a match which ended 29-29. Nick Easter (fresh from watching his teammates from the England Rugby Hospitality Tickets) scored Quins first try from a simple switch with fly-half Nick Evans before Andy Powell crossed on his debut for Wasps.

Tom Varndell streaked away to put Wasps in charge after Rikki Flutey’s break, while Evans and Mark van Gisbergen were on target with the boot throughout.

Mike Brown’s converted second-half try gave Quins a three-point lead but a late Wasps penalty cancelled it out.

The game was a tight affair throughout, characterised by Evans and Van Gisbergen’s exchanges with the boot.

Easter’s try came after two minutes when Evans ghosted past Simon Shaw from a line-out to feed back inside for the England number eight to coast in under the posts.

The former All Black added the conversion and after the Wasps full-back opened his account Evans quickly re-established Quins seven-point gap with a penalty of his own.

Powell’s try, after some good work from Varndell and skipper Tom Rees, was converted to bring the scores level.

Flutey marked his return to Wasps by turning provider when he deftly gathered Jordan Turner-Hall’s spill from a tackle and found Varndell with his offload.