Harlequins vs Bristol LIVE rugby: Latest updates from Premiership clash as Joe Marler bows out

Joe Marler and Fitz Harding have a little spat on the deck after a ruck, Marler giving the Bristol captain an arm in the face and plenty of verbals. Harding has a word with referee Luke Pearce, who clears the tension a bit.

Sadly, Gabriel Oghre’s race is run – the hooker hadn’t quite ever recovered from that early injury and is replaced by Harry Thacker.

Nearly another! This is more classcial attacking play from the hosts, Harlequins charging around the corner in unison to exploit a soft Bristol edge. Cadan Murley thunders into the 22 but his infield offload finds the hands of Bristol’s Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

Bristol have to reset now, that double-strike puncturing an otherwise excellent start. Harlequins haven’t actually had to play any rugby to gain those 12 points, either, which will frustrate Pat Lam.

Broken ball and Harlequins pounce again!

Serious wheels from Luke Northmore! The centre isn’t necessarily a noted sprinter but this is sheer speed, picking up the pieces after his teammates had made a mess of Bristol’s breakdown and easing up through the gears. Jarrod Evans can’t convert.

There is barely a moment to draw breath in this game so far. Harlequins now play quickly from the touchline, though their attempts to make inroads on the opposite side are scuppered by an inaccurate pass that floats over the head of the last man on the line.

Meanwhile, up at Kingston Park, Newcastle lead Saracens thanks to a try from Alex Hearle after this rather tidy early finish from Tobias Elliott.

Picked off, pulled in and Cadan Murley is off to the races!

A 14-point swing! Bristol build pressure and the gaps are starting to appear as Kieran Marmion flings to the right. But Murley is sharp as a tack, off the line in rapid fashion to pluck the duck and make off with the spoils. A 90-metre intercept score and doesn’t the Stoop love it!

This opening 20 has flown by but Bristol are really starting to seize control. Their long, lean athletes are causing havoc, Viliame Mata, Santiago Grondona and co managing to free the arms and get offloads away.

Will Evans is pinged at a breakdown just outside Harlequins’ 22. You doubt Bristol will take the points…and they don’t, opting for the corner.

Under the posts untouched! A brilliant break from Kieran Marmion and Gabriel Ibitoye finishes it off!

It’s poor fringe defence from Harlequins, caught napping down the short side as Marmion snipes. Ibitoye cannily fades to the inside as Marmion puts him away and there’s no stopping the wing from there as he continues his red hot form against his old club.

Joe Marler gives his former teammate a bit of chat afterwards. Hmm…

Oghre appears to have hurt himself in that passage, the hooker slow to get back to join his teammates in restart receipt formation. Replacement Harry Thacker is practicing a few throws on the touchline, suggesting Pat Lam is mulling a change, but Oghre will soldier on for now.

A length-of-the-field pearler from the visitors!

Gabriel Oghre is sprung up the right and shows such intelligence to wait for support having been isolated, ducking and weaving to allow his teammates to arrive. That affords Bristol the chance to spread the ball away to the left, where there are numbers. Kalaveti Ravouvou is the last man on the line and shakes off a would-be tackler before accelerating to the line. AJ MacGinty adds the extras to nudge away noses in front.