Harlequins flanker Will Evans’ first-half hat-trick proved in useless as reigning champions Bath obtained the brand new Gallagher Premiership season off to a successful begin with a 47-31 comeback victory at Twickenham Stoop.
Bathtub had been rattled within the first half by an enterprising Quins, however as soon as Chandler Cunningham-South was yellow carded, there was just one staff within the contest as Bathtub scored 33 unanswered factors.
Jack Kenningham and Tyrone Green had been the hosts’ different try-scorers, with Jarrod Evans changing two.
Bathtub responded with seven tries. Henry Arundell scored a brace with Tom Dunn, Ben Obano, Billy Sela, Archie Griffin, and Sam Underhill additionally on the scoresheet, whereas Ben Spencer added 5 conversions and Tom de Glanville one.
It took lower than two minutes for Quins to open the scoring. Inexperienced powered by means of a spot between the 2 Bathtub locks, and when the ball was recycled, Will Evans raced away to attain.
Inside six minutes, Will Evans celebrated one other with skilful passing, creating area for Cadan Murley on the left flank, and when the ball was recycled, a neat offload from Fin Baxter gave him an unopposed run-in.
Bath responded with a try from Dunn, who finished off a driving line-out with Spencer converting to leave the visitors trailing 12-7 at the end of a very lively first quarter.
On the half-hour, Will Evans completed his hat-trick. An up-and-under was seized upon by Will Porter, who dashed away earlier than feeding Alex Dombrandt.
He was hauled down by a wonderful cowl deal with by Max Ojomoh, however the quantity eight obtained the scoring cross away to Will Evans.
Nevertheless, Quins then suffered three blows in fast succession. First, they misplaced hooker Jack Walker for an HIA earlier than Cunningham-South was despatched to the sin bin for hindering a fast faucet penalty, with Bathtub instantly capitalising when Sela crashed over for his first Premiership attempt.
Walker returned after passing his HIA with rival hooker Dunn departing for the same evaluation as the house aspect led 17-14 on the interval.
Dunn returned for the second half and in time to see Obano put his aspect into the lead inside two minutes of the restart.
Two dwelling defenders stood and watched as Arundell collected an up-and-under from Jarrod Evans to run 45 metres, and when the ball was recycled, Obano proved unstoppable.
Cunningham-South returned from the sin bin along with his aspect having conceded 14 factors in his absence, and their trigger was not helped with substitute hooker George Turner being withdrawn after receiving prolonged consideration from the medics.
This resulted in uncontested scrums, however this didn’t forestall Bathtub from persevering with with their second-half ascendancy.
It got here as no shock when the guests collected their bonus-point attempt when an outstanding lengthy cross from Ojomoh supplied Arundell with a easy process.
Griffin turned the fourth Bathtub front-rower on the scoresheet earlier than Underhill added a fifth as their second-half domination earned full reward, with a attempt from Kenningham securing Quins a bonus level.
There was nonetheless time for one more walk-in for Arundell to finish a depressing second half for the hosts, however that they had the ultimate say with a last-minute attempt from Inexperienced.
