Harlequins 24-7 Glasgow: Hosts seal place in Investec Champions Cup knockout stage

Harlequins defeated the Glasgow Warriors at Twickenham Stadium, successfully advancing to the Round of 16 of the Investec Champions Cup. Early in the match, Chandler Cunningham-South scored from close range after a fine team move, and the winger then assisted James Chisholm, who touched down after a powerful surge.

Glasgow, already assured of a home tie in the Round of 16, then struck back, with Tom Jordan finishing off a flowing move under the posts. Minutes later, the visitors almost scored again in a similar fashion, but as the ball was moved wide, Harlequins winger Cadan Murley leapt high to intercept, and the opportunity was lost.

The second half was more subdued, lacking in highlights. Harlequins fans had to wait until the 68th minute for the next score, when Murley found space after a clever switch to turn defense into attack. Harlequins’ victory ensured they qualified from Pool 4 after the Sharks beat Racing 92. Their Premiership rivals, the Sale Sharks, could also join them if they beat unbeaten Toulon at home on Sunday (17:30 GMT) with a bonus point.

Harlequins' prospects were precarious after their loss to Toulon in their last match. The home side needed a victory to take control of their own destiny. At the start of the game, Marcus Smith spread the ball wide to test Glasgow's defense, and then Cunningham-South, after being named in the England Six Nations squad, opened the scoring for his team. The winger troubled Glasgow all night with his direct running, but it was his one-handed pass that created the next try for Chisholm, who tucked the ball under his arm and went over the line.

Glasgow, who are second in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and had already secured their place in the last 16 in Europe, arrived at the Stoop without their talisman, Sione Tuipulotu, who was injured in training and is likely to miss the Six Nations for Scotland. His starting replacement, Stafford McDowall, passed to winger Sebastian Cancelliere, who beat Murley on the outside and passed back inside for Jordan to score easily under the posts, reducing the deficit. Harlequins managed to regain the momentum before halftime, but Ben Waghorn's try, which would have been his first in Europe, was disallowed for an obstruction by Oscar Beard in the build-up.

The second half was more cagey, but when Hugh Jones was stripped of the ball, Harlequins moved it wide, and Murley raced into space to score their third try. The home side chased a fourth bonus-point try, but the ball was dropped forward late in the game, and Glasgow called a halt to proceedings, with both sides looking forward to the Round of 16.