Beaten Quins not smart enough – O’Shea

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Boss Conor O’Shea admitted Harlequins were not smart enough to match Leicester Tigers as they slumped to their third defeat of the season, going down 22-16 at Welford Road.

With their only significant attacking raid, Karl Dickson crossed for the visitors’ solitary try nine minutes from time to help secure a losing bonus point.

Blaine Scully grabbed an opportunistic try on four minutes to set the Tigers up for victory, with Owen Williams kicking 17 points.

Until Dickson darted over late on, Quins’ only response came from the boot of Nick Evans with three penalties.

Quins’ erratic start to the season was summed up in an error-strewn clash against a Tigers side reeling from three straight losses.

“What we didn’t do today is play as smartly as we could have,” said O’Shea. “We gave them a seven-point start and they were deserved winners.

“We did not play in the right area of the pitch. That is the disappointing thing, because in conditions like that, your set-piece had to function. And it didn’t function line-out wise.

“We just started playing in that middle area and that is why Williams managed to get those long kicks from around half way.

“We have to make sure we are playing as well as we can and it is pretty patent that we are not.

“We have to go away and work hard until we turn it around, and we will.”

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