Leicester Tigers produce extraordinary second-half comeback to stun Harlequins in 'bizarre' Gallagher PREM clash
Published 04/10/2025 at 18:32 GMT+1
Leicester Tigers fought back from 19-0 down to beat Harlequins 29-19 in an extraordinary Gallagher PREM clash. The hosts trailed 16-0 at the interval and saw their deficit increase shortly after the break. But Jack Walker's yellow card proved a turning point, with Tigers scoring a quickfire pair of tries to get back in the contest before completing the turnaround late to clinch a bonus-point win.
Highlights: Tigers mount thrilling comeback to vanquish Harlequins
Video credit: TNT Sports
Leicester Tigers made an extraordinary second-half comeback from 19-0 down to beat Harlequins 29-19 in a "bizarre" Gallagher PREM match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The visitors held a 16-0 lead at half-time thanks to Will Porter’s try and three penalties from Jarrod Evans, and extended their advantage to 19 points just after the interval.
But a Jack Walker yellow card 10 minutes into the second half sparked the turnaround, with tries from Will Wand and Jack van Poortvliet reducing Tigers’ deficit to five points while the Quins hooker was in the sin bin.
After a Billy Searle penalty, Tigers took the lead for the first time in the match when Ollie Hassell-Collins crossed in the corner before Wand’s second try clinched a winning bonus point in the closing stages.
Reacting at full-time, former Quins fly-half Danny Care was perplexed at how events unfolded in Leicester, saying the London side "just stopped playing in the second half".
He told TNT Sports: "I don't know what I've just seen, I've seen a first half where Leicester Tigers looked like they weren't at the races and then a second half where Harlequins looked like they didn't want to win the game, they just wanted to not lose the game."
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Porter finishes off 'unbelievable' Harlequins try straight from restart
Video credit: TNT Sports
The former England man added: "They haven't won an away game for six months, you don't come to places like this and stop playing at half-time and win games, you just don't, you have to keep playing.
"We were waxing lyrical about them at half-time, they did everything right in that first 40 minutes, but that's only half the job.
"Harlequins just stopped playing in that second half and didn't deserve to win the game. Leicester had all the momentum.
"Was it 11 penalties in a row Harlequins gave away? They've got to sort that out, you won't win games of rugby in the Gallagher PREM if you concede that many penalties."
The dramatic comeback earned Tigers' new head coach Geoff Parling his first win after they were beaten by Bristol Bears on the opening weekend.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Quins’ 16-point advantage at the break was the biggest half-time lead they have blown in a PREM match.
It was another disappointing second-half display from Jason Gilmore’s side, having conceded 33 points in the second period of their defeat against Bath last weekend.
Storm Amy played its part in the match, with strong wins behind Quins in the first half and Tigers benefiting from conditions after the break.
Former England international Emily Scarratt described the game as "bizarre".
"The wind was always going to play its part, certainly in terms of how they were able to kick and keep possession," she said on TNT Sports.
"The penalty count from Harlequins was through the roof into that second half, which I think was largely their undoing. Tigers scored two tries with that yellow card, so a massive shift in momentum."
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Reacting to Wand’s victory-sealing try, commentator Nick Mullins labelled the comeback "Lestanbul", in a nod to Liverpool’s famous comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
With the cameras panning between the two head coaches, Mullins said on TNT Sports: "Jason Gilmore, Geoff Parling, the contrast. The headlines - magic Wand? maybe 'Lestanbul'?
"How on earth have they lost a 19-0 lead?
"It’s not taken long, a fortnight in and we are reminded immediately of the madness of this Gallagher PREM."
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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