Wasps 16 - 22 Harlequins: Harlequins resist fightback by Wasps for 14th win in a row

Full-back Mike Brown scored the pick of the tries as Harlequins survived a concerted fightback by Wasps to secure their 10th successive Aviva Premiership victory.

Brown crossed ten minutes after the break in between centre Matt Hopper’s seventh-minute touchdown and flanker Luke Wallace’s score as the leaders roared into a 22-6 lead with 57 minutes played at Adams Park.

But Hopper’s departure for the sin-bin saw Hugo Southwell claim a first try for the home side and when England winger Tom Varndell followed suit nine minutes from time, the game was back in the balance.

However, stand-off Nick Robinson twice hit a post as he failed to add to his six points, and opposite number Nick Evans’ single penalty and two conversions helped to see the visitors home for their 14th consecutive win in all competitions.

Quins led after just seven minutes, Hopper running on to prop Joe Marler’s inside pass to touch down beneath the posts, with Evans adding the conversion.

Robinson reduced the deficit within two minutes with a well-struck penalty and scrum-half Joe Simpson should have put Wasps ahead with a penalty just feet short of the line, but his attempt came back off the post.

A dominant home pack caused problems for Quins in the set-pieces, but they had to wait until the final minute of the first half to win the penalty from which Robinson pulled them back to within a point.

However, the Quins tight five restored pride as they turned the tables at a 44th-minute scrum and Evans stretched their lead to 10-6 four minutes after the restart.

They eased further clear with their second try as quick hands by Chris Robshaw and Hopper allowed Brown to chip over the top and win the chase to touch down. Quins cemented their lead seven minutes later when Wallace bludgeoned his way over from Danny Care’s deft kick and Evans converted.

Hopper’s afternoon took a turn for the worse when he was yellow-carded, and Wasps took advantage as Southwell touched down in the corner with 63 minutes gone.

Varndell made light of Hopper’s return as he burst past him to run in his side’s second try eight minutes later, although Robson hit the post with his conversion attempt to leave his side six points adrift.