Harlequins made it back to back wins at The Stoop after overcoming Gloucester 23-19 in an end-to-end encounter.

Inspired by a colossal performance from Alex Dombrandt at No.8, the quarter colours edged it on the scoreboard despite conceding three tries to their two.

An Ollie Thorley brace and a Ben Morgan score looked to have given Johan Ackerman’s side the victory but through the boot of Marcus Smith, a first half Ross Chisolm try and Dombrandt’s score, Quins edged it and gave them just their second win of the season.

The win comes a week after defeating Bath in the Champions Cup, lifts Paul Gustard’s men up to eighth, while Gloucester slip to seventh.

See-Saw

Quins took the lead on ten minutes through the boot of Smith after some good work at the breakdown by Chris Robshaw to win the penalty.

The lead lasted just three minutes however as the elusive Thorley picked up at the base if the ruck and scampered away from just outside the 22 to dot down under the posts.

A see-saw battle then saw Quins cross the whitewash as it looked like the visors had the measure of their attack with their we organised defence.

A quick pass from the base of the ruck found Chisolm who found Gloucester’s un-set defence before ghosting past Thorley and full-back Chris Harris, with Smith adding the extras.

Not soon had Gustard’s men taken the lead Thorley crossed again for the cherry and whites.

Camped in the 22 and with an advantage they passed it through the hands to the flank where Quins were short of numbers to find the winger who finished competently to give the visitors a 12-10 lead going into the break.

Dombrandt Power

Smith slotted from distance soon after the restart to edge ahead but it was West Country men who touchdown first on the hour.

After Craig Maxwell-Keys awarded a controversial penalty to Gloucester after he adjudged Franco Mostert was illegally pulled down at the lineout, Cipriani went to the corner.

From the resulting lineout, it was no.8 Ben Morgan who bundled his way through a tired Quins backline as they relinquished the lead once more with Cipriani making it 19-12.

Quins couldn’t have hoped for a better restart as they regathered and after multiple phases it was  Dombrandt who crashed over from five-yards with the TMO confirming the grounding.

Smith’s conversion nudged Gustard’s men ahead by a single point with 15 to play.

Smith and Gloucester substitute Billy Twelvetees both traded missed penalties in the final ten minutes showcasing nerves of two sides in need of a win.

With minutes remaining Quins played keep ball and forced a penalty which Smith sent deep into Glocuester territory knowing victory was nearing.

A huge hit by game changer Francis Saili on Jake Polledri on the Gloucester line turned the ball over for the home side who forced another penalty as a result as the cock went red.

Smith sotted from under the posts to complete the scoring 23-19.