Exiles upset champions Harlequins
PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Ben White's try proved decisive as London Irish picked up just their second win this season with a 22-19 victory at champions Harlequins on Saturday.
The result was in the balance throughout a gripping encounter at the Twickenham Stoop but Irish held on to climb the table.
For Quins, it was a missed opportunity to make up ground on leaders Leicester as they fell to a third defeat of the campaign, despite young winger Oscar Beard scoring his first two senior tries.
London Irish claimed the game's first points through an early Paddy Jackson penalty but Quins hit back midway through the first half when Beard pounced on a loose ball to score the game's opening try.
Tommaso Allan added the conversion from out wide but Irish hit back just before the half-hour when Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy grounded the ball off the back of a driving maul, following a succession of penalties.
Jackson's conversion put the visitors 10-7 in front but the lead changed hands again shortly before the break, with Luke Northmore scoring under the posts following a delightful move from Quins, with the try converted.
London Irish retook the lead in the 51st minute following a dangerous break by Tom Parton, as Curtis Rona found former Australia lock Rob Simmons in space to go over down the right.
Jackson missed the conversion, meaning just one point separated the teams, but replacement scrum-half White darted his way over just before the hour mark and the try was converted to extend the lead to 22-14.
Beard scored his second try with 14 minutes remaining but Quins could not snatch a late winner.
"It's a good win. We knew it would come down to our defence and I think what we showed was our connected passion and emotion," London Irish head coach Les Kiss said.
"We're trying to make our desire to attack part of our DNA. We don't want to shy away but we knew we had to keep playing our game and make them come to us."
Saturday scores and scorers
Harlequins 19-22 London Irish
The scorers
For Harlequins
Tries: Beard 2, Northmore
Cons: Allan 2
For London Irish
Tries: Creevy, Simmons, White
Cons: Jackson 2
Pen: Jackson
Newcastle Falcons 24-24 Worcester Warriors
The scorers
For Newcastle Falcons
Tries: McGuigan 2, Radwan, Cooper
Cons: Hodgson 2
For Worcester Warriors
Tries: Beck, Hatherell, Searle
Cons: Smith 3
Pen: Smith