Harlequins 30-6 Grenoble: Joe Marler incident mars Quins progress to Challenge Cup final
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 23/04/16 10:04am
Joe Marler could face another suspension after appearing to kick hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head as Harlequins saw off Grenoble 30-6 to reach the European Challenge Cup final.
The England prop, playing in his first game following a two-match ban for a racial slur against Wales' Samson Lee during the Six Nations, could face a citing and disciplinary hearing after connecting with Heguy in the 26th minute of the semi-final.
Any ban could jeopardise Marler's availability for Harlequins' Challenge Cup final on May 13, and even England's three-Test tour to Australia in June.
For Quins, it was Jamie Roberts, fit-again fly-half Nick Evans and George Lowe who claimed the tries that sent them to their first European final since winning the Challenge Cup in 2011.
Conor O'Shea's men will now face the winners of Saturday's other semi-final clash, between Montpellier and Newport Dragons.
Harlequins' 13-6 half-time lead was not nearly sufficient, by virtue of both their early dominance and Grenoble's threats of a recovery.
Juggernaut centre Roberts trucked over for the first-half's sole try, with Ben Botica's conversion and two penalties putting Harlequins firmly in control only for Jonathan Wisniewski to land two goals of his own to cut the home advantage.
Three times the visitors set themselves a fine platform to cause Quins more problems only to botch their approach play at the critical stage.
Quins somehow escaped and were able to close out the clash after the break despite yet more fluctuating fortunes.
Fit-again fly-half Evans capped his return from a broken leg with the try that effectively confirmed the victory - the Kiwi playmaker reclaiming his own grubber to score just ahead of the hour.
Danny Care then sent a grubber of his own through, allowing centre Lowe to dot down Quins' third and final try and seal their place in the final.