Captain Alex Dombrandt Leads Quins in Rollercoaster Win at Twickenham

Harlequins secured a thrilling 32-26 victory over Gloucester in a high-octane match at Twickenham, with captain Alex Dombrandt overshadowing his England rival Zach Mercer in a battle of the No8s. Dombrandt outmuscled Mercer for a spectacular try and later tackled the former Montpellier man as Quins came out on top in this rollercoaster encounter.

Dombrandt, eyeing a Six Nations recall after missing the Rugby World Cup, played a key role in a five-try spectacle, with Marcus Smith also starring. Dombrandt’s leadership was complemented by a brace from winger Nick David, while the match also saw tries from Joe Marler, Dino Lamb, and Danny Care.

Despite the victory, Harlequins were left with some injury concerns, as Marler sustained a possible forearm injury and both Lamb and Stephan Lewies picked up shoulder issues. However, the win was a deserved one, with 76,813 spectators watching Quins dominate in every area of the game.

Gloucester, on the other hand, struggled with a series of errors and were unable to build on a brief lead after a try from Scotland’s Adam Hastings. Despite some late fightback, including a try from Jonny May and a penalty try, they could not keep up with the hosts’ superior performance.

Quins’ resilience and quick-thinking in attack, notably Will Evans’ tap penalty, helped them stay in control, as Gloucester’s defence was too often left exposed. The final scoreline saw Quins hold on to their lead, with Gloucester unable to mount a sufficient comeback despite scoring twice in the final minutes. The win was a vital one for Harlequins, who dominated from start to finish at a raucous Twickenham.