The opening 10 minutes were evenly matched, with Halifax coming closest when an attacking run was pushed into touch five yards from the try line. Rob Worrincy then clattered into the corner post at 16 minutes and went into touch, again denying Halifax points.

After 12 minutes Halifax player Paul Smith had a try disallowed after the referee signalled a knock-on and the scoreboard was quickly readjusted to read 0-0.

After 26 minutes Luke Dorn broke through to score the first try at the Stoop in 2009, and put Harlequins ahead. Purdham converted and minutes later Dorn touched down a bouncing ball to get his second of the afternoon, which Purdham again converted.

After a spell of good attacking play from Harlequins, Luke Williamson broke through and scored his first try at the Stoop on 31 minutes. Purham kicked the ball to the right of the posts, but more than made up for this with a try – assisted by Dorn – just before half time, and then converted to make it 22-0 when the hooter sounded.

The second half began and all the play was deep inside the Halifax half when Dorn scored his hat trick. Halifax came close at the 60 minute mark after a surging run from Lee Paterson that followed a series of plays that almost took them over the line, but the Harlequins defence were standing strong and not yielding.

Jack Graves twisted his ankle shortly afterwards, and despite being carried off the pitch, was later described by Brian McDermott as being ok.

In the final play after the hooter, Graham Charlesworth chased a high ball to get the only Halifax try of the match and give the travelling fans something to take home.