Heineken Champions Cup: Sharks beat Harlequins to record first South African victory as Leinster and Gloucester start with wins | Rugby Union News

Sharks beat Harlequins 39-31 to record their first South African Heineken Champions Cup success; Leinster start with an impressive 42-10 win over Racing 92; Gloucester produce late comeback to beat Bordeaux Bègles

Ox Nche’s sending off didn’t stop the Sharks becoming the first South African side to win a Heineken Champions Cup game

Harlequins opened their Heineken Champions Cup campaign with a defeat as Sharks became the first South African side to record a win in the competition.

Quins were beaten 39-31 in Durban in the first game as one of three South African teams admitted to this season’s tournament.

The home side’s victory came despite a 60th-minute red card for prop Ox Nche, handed out following a head-on collision, and with an extra man Quins closed within a point at 32-31 when Josh Bassett went over for his second down.

Breathing space was restored thanks to full-back Boeta Chamberlain’s scoring, and the Sharks saw the Pool A game finished in a bonus points win; Quins’ five tries – including another brace, for Andre Esterhuizen – saw them head north with a bonus point.

Quins head coach Tabai Matson said: “We gave them too many penalties and gave them too many opportunities, and good teams take them. We missed our own opportunities in the game to play our game, so it will be frustrating when we debrief the Game.”

There was more to celebrate in Pool A for Leinsterwho took off with an impressive 42-10 win at Race 92.

A scheduled gig at the French side’s Paris stadium meant the game was being played in Le Havre and, with no real home advantage, Racing were no match for their Irish visitors.

Josh van der Flier scored two of Leinster’s six tries against Racing 92

Finalists last season Leinster made a statement of intent as they raced in six tries to earn a bonus point, the first of them passing through Andrew Porter seven minutes later and two more scored before the break by the World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier.

Racing’s only try was scored late on by former England winger Christian Wade, who returned to rugby after a three-year stint in the NFL.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “The guys started with great intention and it was important to score early. I had watched Racing in their last games and they had scored a lot of points at the start. They had blitzed Clermont and it was important to take that away from them.”

Elsewhere in pool A, Gloucester recovered from a 12-point halftime deficit to start with a 22-17 win Bordeaux Begles.

Charlie Chapman receives a hug from Jack Clement after scoring Gloucester’s winning try against Bordeaux Bègles

Trailing 17-5 at the break after an error-ridden first half, the Premiership side were still behind with just 16 minutes to play.

But late tries from Albert Tuisue, Santiago Socino and Charlie Chapman – putting the finishing touches on a clever move – turned the game in favor of the home side.