LONDON IRISH survived a late Harlequins fightback to mark a dream return to the Aviva Premiership with a bonus-point victory at Twickenham.
The Exiles looked to be cruising at 29-10 in front with 15 minutes to play thanks to tries from Topsy Ojo, Tommy Bell and Ofisa Treviranus.
But Quins battled all the way back to 32-29 before a late Brendan McKibbin try sealed a dramatic 39-29 victory.
After losing their opening six matches at the beginning of the 2015/16 relegation season, to get off the mark at the first time of asking will come as a welcome boost.
REACTION: Nick Kennedy delighted with Premiership return
Despite recruiting 11 new players over the summer, Nick Kennedy opted to stick with the majority of those who performed so well during the successful Championship campaign.
Only two men in Petrus Du Plessis and Franco van der Merwe made their debuts from the start and there was in fact only one other change from the side which won the play-off final against Yorkshire Carnegie back in May.
Scrum-half Scott Steele earned a start with McKibbin dropping to the bench, alongside Ben Franks, who also started the final. Jebb Sinclair was the third change, but he has since left the club.
And that familiarity seemed evident early on as James Marshall, one of the top players across the entire Championship last season, forced England international Mike Brown into a mistake with a clever chip over the top.
From the resulting scrum, Exiles worked through seven phases with some neat handling before earning a penalty which Bell tucked over.
Any nerves you may have expected from Irish in their first game back in the top flight were in fact on show from Harlequins, with another knock-on in the back-line punished by a second Bell penalty with only eight minutes on the clock.
Quins reduced the arrears after quarter of an hour when teenage fly-half Marcus Smith kicked over three points on his debut, while Bell missed the chance to restore the six-point cushion when his long-range penalty drifted wide.
A jinking run from Alex Lewington threatened to create the first try of the contest, only to go into touch, while at the other end only some brilliant defensive work by Fergus Mulchrone saw Brown knock-on before Marland Yarde crossed.
However, the fans would not have to wait much longer for the first try. Marshall’s cross-field kick found Ojo in space and the winger burst forwards, exchanging passes with Mulchrone before sprinting for the line.
After a tense and lengthy review with the TMO to check a potential Sebastian De Chaves knock-on, the five points were awarded with Bell kicking the extras to open up a 13-3 lead after 25 minutes.
The entertainment did not stop there. After a big hit from Blair Cowan on Yarde, Exiles broke away again down the left wing, this time with Bell himself crossing the whitewash to the delight of the vocal Irish contingent.
Harlequins quickly responded, bagging a first try of their own before the half was out when Joe Marchant found space to burst through the heart of the Irish defence and dab down under the posts with Smith’s easy kick reducing the arrears to 18-10.
Irish looked to move further in front with a trademark line-out drive, but in the end settled for three more points from Bell and held firm to go into the break 21-10 up.
A number of breaks in play halted the flow at the start of the second period with both Ojo and Smith forced off for head injury assessments.
Bell kicked over the first three points of the half on 52 minutes, coinciding in a period where Quins went down to 14 men thanks to a yellow card for replacement Demetri Catrakilis.
And Kennedy’s charges took full advantage of the extra man, moving 29-10 in front when some brilliant build-up by Alex Lewington and subs Greig Tonks and McKibbin led to Treviranus charging from deep to cross the line.
But Quins would not go down without a fight, scoring their second try of the afternoon when Marland Yarde crossed in the corner.
And John Kingston’s side clearly sensed a dramatic comeback, reducing the deficit to 29-22 as Danny Care weaved his way through.
But the game took another twist five minutes from time when, following a TMO review, Brown was sent to the sin bin for obstructing Bell and the full-back duly kicked over.
However, back came Harlequins, scoring a try almost instantly when Charlie Walker went over under the posts after a lay-off from Yarde to bring the scores to 32-20 with just two minute to play.
Nerves were instantly quelled as McKibbin crossed down the other end to clinch a thrilling victory.
Saracens cruised to victory in the first match of the day at Twickenham, running out 55-24 winners over Northampton Saints.
LONDON IRISH: Bell, Lewington, Hearn, F. Mulchrone (Tonks 29), Ojo (Tikoirotuma 44-53) Marshall, Steele (McKibbin 50); Hobbs-Awoyemi (Reid 53), Paice (c) (Porecki 53), Du Plessis (Franks 53), van der Merwe (McNally 65), De Chaves, Coman, Cowan, Treviranus (Gilsenan 70).
Tries: Ojo (24), Bell (31), Treviranus (58), McKibbin (79)
Cons: Bell x2 (25,80)
Pens: Bell x5 (5,8,38,52,76)
HARLEQUINS: Brown, Yarde, Marchant, Roberts, Walker, Smith (Catrakilis 50), Care; Marler (Lambert 50), Buchanan, Collier (Sinckler 50), Glynn (Merrick 50), Horwill (c), Robshaw, Ward, Clifford (Luamanu 50).
Reps not used: Gray, C. Mulchrone, Stanley.
Tries: Marchant (35), Yarde (64), Walker (78)
Cons: Smith (35), Catrakilis x2 (65,78)
Pens: Smith (16)
Yellow card: Catrakilis (52), Brown (75)
Referee: Tom Foley
Attendance: 56,532
