The Albany Gazette - Harlequins into Premiership play-offs with latest comeback win

Gloucester led 24-7 at half-time. But Quins erased that deficit by scoring 21 unanswered points, with Marchant's double topped off by Cadan Murley's try 11 minutes from time.

"Joe was phenomenal again today," said Harlequins coach Tabai Matson. "He does an amazing job for us.

"He is so reliable. He is one of our best. He is so versatile."

Quins were 28-0 down in their play-off semi-final last year before defeating Bristol 43-36 and then edging out Exeter in a see-saw final at Twickenham to take the title.

Saturday's match also took place at Twickenham, in front of a 47,000-strong crowd, after Quins moved the game from their nearby Stoop ground.

All Quins had to show for their first-half efforts were an Alex Dombrandt try converted by Marcus Smith, the first of four successful goal-kicks for the England fly-half.

"The final result was really gritty, but Gloucester put us under immense pressure in the first half," said Matson.

He added: "We focused on a couple of things at half-time, and it kind of paid dividends. Our discipline was significantly better in the second half."

Only the top four at the end of the regular season qualify for the title-deciding play-offs.

This defeat left Gloucester fifth -- level on points with Northampton -- and still in contention ahead of their final game of the regular season against Saracens on June 4.

"A few of our lads haven't even seen Twickenham Stadium, let alone played here," said Gloucester coach George Skivington, adding: "I am not going to cry myself home."

Elsewhere, leaders Leicester secured a 19th win of the Premiership season with a 27-5 victory away to Newcastle.

Tries from Nemani Nadolo and Guy Porter, backed up by the boot of George Ford, ensured victory for the visitors before Ford's fellow England international Freddie Steward scored late on.

Saracens booked a home semi-final with a 42-38 win over Northampton in a hard-fought encounter as they came from 10-9 down at half-time.

Theo McFarland scored two tries for Saracens, Nick Tompkins, Alex Lewington and Alex Goode the others, with England's Owen Farrell kicking 17 points after his side had been 10-9 down at the break.

Northampton managed five tries, all converted by Dan Biggar with the Wales captain adding a penalty as well.

Bath climbed off the bottom in a 27-24 win at home to London Irish.

The Exiles had a 10-point lead at one stage but a Will Muir try and two penalties by Orlando Bailey, who also kicked three conversions, saw Bath to only their fifth league win of the season.

Bath's match with Worcester on June 4 will decide who finishes bottom of the table, but neither side risks being demoted after league chiefs took the controversial decision to abandon relegation for both this season and next as part of a Covid recovery plan.

(K.Müller--BBZ)