Harlequins just absolutely exploded for a massive 57 points against French club Vannes, putting a wild bonus-point win on the board to kick off their 2026-27 Challenge Cup campaign. This came after a seriously rough start to their new Prem season, where they’re sitting dead last after losing all three matches. Talk about a morale boost when they needed it most, right?
Smith Goes Off While the Forwards Take Over
Marcus Smith was straight up cooking, man. He racked up 22 points all by himself with two insane tries and six conversions. Seriously, this dude has scored four tries in just two games now, including two last Sunday. Our captain, Cadan Murley, wasn’t far behind, crashing over for two tries of his own, and Will Evans also grabbed a double. Will Hobson, Sam Riley, and replacement hooker Jimmy Staples all added to the try fest, bringing Quins’ total to a mind-blowing nine tries. Vannes managed three tries from Wayan De Benedittis and two from Enzo Benmegal, but it was just not enough to keep up.
From Yellow Card Chaos to Complete Dominance
The game wasn’t without its drama, though. Murley and Smith got the scoring started early, but then Vannes got on the board with De Benedittis. Hobson powered over, and then boom, Smith gets a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on at the 37-minute mark. With a man down, Vannes’ winger Enzo Benmegal snagged two quick tries, including one with this wild acrobatic finish! But even with that hiccup, Murley managed his second try in between those, and once the numbers were even again, it was game over. The English side just dominated the rest of the match, especially the forwards who absolutely made hay, scoring four of the next five tries. Riley, Evans (twice!), and Staples just drove it home.
This was Quins’ first Challenge Cup match since 2018, and they’ve actually won this thing a record-equalling three times, though not since 2011. Vannes, who won Pro D2 (France’s second tier) last season, are struggling themselves, sitting at the bottom of the Top 14 with four losses. So, while it wasn’t a European powerhouse, this win was exactly what the doctor ordered for Harlequins.
What’s Next: A Massive Derby
Alright, so the Challenge Cup win felt good, but the real test is coming up. Harlequins have got a massive Prem derby at home against Saracens next Sunday. They gotta take all this confidence and energy from crushing Vannes and pour it into getting their league campaign off the ground. Can they do it? We’re all gonna be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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