{"id":53691,"date":"2025-10-17T19:45:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T23:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/sin-categoria\/smith-leads-harlequins-to-victory-vs-saracens-end-to-their-perfect-streak-2\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T19:45:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T23:45:04","slug":"smith-leads-harlequins-to-victory-vs-saracens-end-to-their-perfect-streak-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/rugby\/smith-leads-harlequins-to-victory-vs-saracens-end-to-their-perfect-streak-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith leads Harlequins to victory vs Saracens: End to their perfect streak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marcus Smith’s Return Fuels Harlequins to Victory<\/h2>\n\nMarcus Smith’s return was the spark that ignited Harlequins’ first victory of the Gallagher Premiership season, while Saracens saw their perfect start come to an end with a 20-14 defeat at The Stoop.\n\nSmith, in his first appearance after the British and Irish Lions tour, scored Quins’ first try and directed the aerial attack that ultimately led to the defeat of their London rivals.\n\nThe talented England player also converted two conversions, the second improving Tyrone Green’s try in the second half, and two penalties, surpassing Owen Farrell, who led Saracens from the center.\n\nFarrell created tries for Fergus Burke and Ben Earl with a sublime pass and a precise cross-kick, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his team’s third consecutive defeat against Harlequins.\n\n\n
\"Marcus<\/figure>\n\n\nMarcus Smith’s return was a successful one for Harlequins.<\/em>\n\nThe hosts dominated most of the first half, but their lead at halftime was only 10-7, with a Smith penalty making the difference between the rivals.\n\nThe battle in the scrum, the kicking game, and great individual moments favored Quins, but they only managed one try for their dominance, with Smith breaking through in the ninth minute, beating a tackle from Marco Riccioni.\n\nFarrell missed a routine kick launched by Smith, which caused the joy of the local fans, who celebrated when Saracens’ number eight, Tom Willis, was pushed back in the tackle by Kieran Treadwell.\n\nBoth teams utilized the kicking game at every opportunity, averaging one kick per minute in the first quarter, but it was Smith who dominated the aerial game with his variety.\n\nSaracens were struggling to get out of their half, but in the 27th minute, their attack came alive when Farrell made a spectacular pass to Lucio Cinti, and one pass later, Burke finished a try that could be a candidate for try of the season.\n\nChandler Cunningham-South made a big tackle on Willis, and when the home team’s powerful scrum earned a penalty, Smith scored.\n\n\n