Harlequins 28-53 Bristol: Bears beat Quins on final day but not enough for Premiership play-off spot

Bristol Bears beat Harlequins but a 53-28 win at the Stoop was not enough to clinch a place in the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.

Both Quins and the Bears could have qualified with a bonus-point win, provided other results went their way on the final day, and it was Bristol who made that charge with seven tries in a thrilling clash.

But with Sale’s 20-10 win at Saracens, there was little Bristol could do as they were forced to settle for fifth place with Harlequins in sixth.

Elsewhere, Bath were hugely impressive in a 40-12 win over Northampton Saints to earn themselves a semi-final clash at home to Sale. Saracens, through to the play-offs despite defeat on the final day, will travel to face Northampton on May 31.

At the Stoop, Pat Lam’s side could not have asked for a better start, with former Quins academy graduate Gabriel Ibitoye running down the left before James Williams crossed after 55 seconds. Callum Sheedy converted from the touchline.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg limped over after the restart and Quins equalized when the on-off Andre Esterhuizen burst through a hole before Chandler Cunningham-South headed under the posts.

Ellis Genge crossed after a wonderful Bears offload that created space and almost had a second, the score ruled out for a foul on Harry Thacker. Instead, Quins equalized through Alex Dombrandt, with Marcus Smith converting from the foul line.

A loose ball at midfield then allowed Ibitoye to stretch his legs and run in a third to make it 21-14 for the visitors.

Genge and Sheedy departed in the same spell before the break, but the Bears flew out of the blocks in the second half as Thacker scored with a routine maul score.

Harlequins roared back, bringing back memories of their famous 28-point comeback in the semi-final meeting between these sides three years ago at Ashton Gate.

Luke Northmore showed brilliant football skills for the third try before Cunningham-South headed over for the bonus point try to make it 28-26 for the hosts.

But a Williams penalty restored Bristol’s lead and Max Lahiff then headed over from close range. The momentum had shifted for good, with Williams knocking over another penalty before Heward Heward finished off a try from a Max Malins break – the full-back impressing after switching to fly-half.

Harlequins had nothing left to give and Bristol brought up their half-century of points with another maul try, this time through Gabriel Oghre.

Additional reporting by PA Sport.