Premiership: Harlequins 12-15 Bristol Bears

The Bears moved off the bottom of the table with a hard fought victory over Quins.

Bristol scored two tries from Harry Thacker and Gabriel Ibitoye in the first half to take a 10 point lead.

On the hour, Quins dominated possession and territory as Murley cut the gap to three.

Bristol held on despite being kept out of the game.

The Bears won for the first time in the league since September, taking them two points above Bath and keeping Quins third in the table.

The home fans paid tribute to retiring prop Shaunagh Brown, who was carried from the field on the shoulders of her team-mates after Quins' 48-14 win over Bristol.

However, when their turn came, they made an uncertain start as they looked to take advantage of slip-ups for leaders Saracens, Sale and Gloucester - losing flanker Will Evans to a head injury assessment inside the first minute before struggling for precision in their handling and at the line.

Bristol were lively and tidy and were rewarded when hooker Thacker drove over from a rolling maul for his seventh try in his last eight games.

Quins finally got their act together in the first period.

After a combination of slick handling and clever lines, Quins slid in the corner as the Bears defence had no time to regroup.

The home side were threatening to move through the gears when Bristol struck back with a try of their own.

The former Quins winger had a lot to do as he received a long pass 10 metres out on the left, but a lightening step off the touchline back inside took out four covering Quins defenders as he burrowed over the line to restore the visitors 10-point lead at half-time

Ibitoye then showed his defensive prowess in denying Care an early score in the second half, nudging the scrum-half's toe on to the touchline in a try-saving tackle as the number nine dived for the corner.

Quins pulled to within three points with another clever score as Marchant broke the gain line inside the Bears 22 before Care's vision and perfect cross-field kick found Murphy on the right to dive over.

Quins drive to go for the win looked like it was going to pay off when Ibitoye was shown a yellow card for leading with his shoulder in tackling.

They were able to create the match-winning chance in the last minute.

The South Africa centre was brought down by MacGinty's desperation tap-tackle after Oscar Beard broke clear into the Bears' 22.

A sliding rip away from a diving Tom Whiteley prevented the try that would have given Bristol the points.

The director of rugby is from Bristol.

The second half was a brave one. We've been working on the areas of our game where we need to be more aggressive.

When the bottom three teams knock off the top three teams on the same weekend, it's amazing.

The coaching staff and players are doing a great job. A lot of pressure comes from outside when you're at the bottom of the table.

This competition is awesome because we are only six or seven off the fourth place. The way this competition is all teams can make the top four.

Tabai matson is the head coach of the Quins.

Our players and captain are supported by us very much. It would have been better to take the three and take the draw. Exit and have another chance.

The positive intent is something I enjoy about joining this club. If there is a chance to score a try, we will go for it.

I think the decision is a good one. It cost us, but I think it was worth it.

David, Marler, Walker, Louw, Hammond, Herbst, White, Evans, Dombrant are some of the players in the team.

The replacements were Head, Kerrod, Matthews, Lawday, Gjaltema, and Beard.

Bristol has Lane, Morahan, Bedlow, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Uren.

The replacements were Kerr, Woolmore, Tyack, Thomas, Whiteley, O'Conor and Lloyd.

The referee was Karl Dickenson.