Cadan Murley hat-trick lifts Harlequins and shatters Gloucester’s playoff dream

Cadan Murley breaks clear to score Harlequins’ first try of the game at the Allianz Stadium. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

They call it bouncebackability. And it works both ways.

Harlequins went down by 40 points in the last round at Welford Road, barely playing a shot. So it was inevitable they would burst into this one in front of a big house at the big stadium across the road for their now traditional “Big Summer Kick-Off”. Likewise, Gloucester played the rugby of the gods last time out, one shy of 80 points against Exeter, so it stood to reason they would flop painfully here. And, boy, did they.