Harlequins hosted Northampton Saints in front of yet another sell-out Stoop crowd this weekend, with both sides displaying their well-known brands of attacking rugby.

Quins came roaring out of the blocks in sunny South West London, with hooker Jack Musk claiming a score in just the third minute off the back of a driving maul deep in enemy territory.

A second try came just four minutes later. With Saints looking to flex their attacking skills, centre Lennox Anyanwu rushed up to force the handling error from centre Fraser Dingwall just inside his own half.

Quins wing Joe Marchant poached the loose ball, carrying into contact and offloading to allow Anyanwu to sprint in from 40 metres to claim his Gallagher Premiership try. Two Smith conversions saw the Men in the Famous Quarters lead 14-0 with just seven minutes played.

While Wales fly-half Dan Biggar registered Saints' first points with a penalty in the 21st minute to cut down Quins' lead to 11, man of the moment Luke Northmore sent an almost immediate reply with a try on his 50th appearance for the Club.

A smart Quins attacking move down the left touchline saw Northmore bundle a prospective defender out of his way before burning a path up the pitch for Quins' third. Smith duly added the extras.

Saints claimed a try of their own before the break, with captain Lewis Ludlam crashing over from short range under the posts. Biggar added the kick to leave the score 21-10 at half-time.

Saints came out in the second-half seemingly energised and determined to overturn a Quins side with the wind in its sails. Despite their resolve, Saints' hopes were dented as Australian second row Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was shown a yellow card for a high and off the ball hit on Quins openside Will Evans.

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Making the most of the one-man advantage, Musk was the man to secure the bonus-point score as his second as another marching Quins maul made easy work of the 7-man Saints pack shorn of one of its heftiest defenders. Another successful Smith conversion extended Quins' lead to 18-points.

Once restored to their full contingent, Saints worked their way up the field and camped five metres out from Harlequins' line. After early skirmishes were repelled by multiple determined Quins, the pressure eventually opened a gap down the right touchline for wing Tommy Freeman to run in untouched. No conversion from Biggar, so Quins led by 13.

Quick thinking from scrum-half Danny Care with a quick tap penalty around halfway allowed Cadan Murley to claim a fifth try for the Club. Care scampered ten metres into Saints territory before sending a wide pass to Marchant, who held the ball for the final second to give Murley as much time and space as possible.

Seemingly set to be bundled into touch, the left wing hit the gas to accelerate through and dive into the corner for a photo finish. Nerves of steel from Smith as he added the widest of touchline conversion to establish a 20-point lead with a quarter of an hour left to play.

A nerve-wracking final 15 minutes for Quins fans, with a 35-15 lead fast disappearing as Saints ran in two answered scores in the final quarter of the match, with fullback George Furbank dotting down before reserve halfback Tom James muscled his way through two Quins forwards, desperate to bring his side back into contention.

A tense final few minutes saw Quins defending with fever. At 35-29, a converted try for Saints would have been enough to turn elation into disappointment for the Men in the Famous Quarters.

A mention must go to try-scorer Lennox Anyanwu, who was named the BT Sport Player of the Match after a strong display on both sides of the ball at inside centre.