Harlequins 28 Leicester Tigers 31: George Ford and Matt Toomua steer Tigers through chaotic contest

Leicester Tigers held on to record their second win of the Premiership campaign in a frenetic game against Harlequins that featured three tries and a yellow card for either side.

Tigers full-back Telusa Veainu lit up the first half, burrowing over from close range to score the opening try before torturing the hosts with his dazzling counter-attacking.

In a match that was billed as a head-to-head clash between two fly-halves - Marcus Smith and established international George Ford - Harlequins' teenage number 10 landed three first-half penalties and directed play well.

Although Leicester went into half-time 11-9 ahead, two tries in three minutes soon after the break from Danny Care and Mat Luamanu put Harlequins 21-11 in front.

Scrums were messy throughout, and referee Ian Tempest sent both Leicester loosehead Ellis Genge and Harlequins tighthead Will Collier to the sin bin simultaneously. Marcus Smith was also forced to withdraw due to injury, which stunted Harlequins' attack.

READ MORE: Lukaku strikes again as United stutter past Saints

READ MORE: Five-star Guardiola's men sink sorry Palace to go top

READ MORE: Manchester City on best top-flight goal run since 1950s

The open spaces suited Leicester, who replied through Jonny May, latching onto Matt Toomua's pass, and replacement prop Greg Bateman, set free by Ford.

Alofa Alofa's try put Harlequins back in front, but two penalties from Ford sealed the result for Tigers following a stretched finale.

4:55PM

Full-time! Harlequins 28-31 Leicester Tigers

Crazy until the end. Harlequins eke out a ruck penalty. Danny Care taps and goes before Mike Brown aims a kick across the field. Leicester just about recover it and get a penalty of their own. That finishes a remarkable game.

4:51PM

Harlequins 28-31 Leicester Tigers, 79 minutes

Harlequins are probing and going through the phases within their own 22. They're being patient. They have the attacking quality to work an opening and Leicester look shattered...

4:48PM

Harlequins 28-31 Leicester Tigers, 77 minutes

We need about three re-sets at a midfield scrum before Leicester come away and break left. Jonny May and Sam Harrison break through the fringes and bring Tigers to within five metres...but then Dom Barrow spills under pressure!

4:43PM

Mike Brown still on

4:42PM

Penalty, George Ford! Harlequins 28-31 Leicester Tigers, 73 minutes

After all that, Ford puts Leicester ahead.

4:41PM

Harlequins 28-28 Leicester Tigers, 69 minutes

Carnage. CARNAGE. Harlequins win a breakdown turnover and that is only the beginning of the chaos. Mathew Tait storms through to make a huge tackle but Harlequins work the ball to Yarde, who chips over the top and seems to be hit by Veainu.

George Ford then kicks downfield, Nick Malouf runs through to collect and Harlequins infringe at the breakdown. That could have been a yellow card.

Meanwhile, Mike Brown is limping badly.

Matt Smith replaces Mat Tait for a HIA, but is not fit enough for Joe Ford will be on instead.

4:36PM

Harlequins 28-28 Leicester Tigers, 69 minutes

This game is there for someone to grab. Danny Care bounces a kick into touch  and Leicester loose the lineout. Harlequins cycle through the phases and get to the 22 but cough it up...

...then there is a huge Leicester shove that wins a scrum penalty.

4:32PM

Penalty, George Ford! Harlequins 28-28 Leicester Tigers, 66 minutes

Matt Toomua carries hard off the scrum. Jamie Roberts makes the tackle but cannot roll away. Ford levels it up. Harry Thacker is back off for Leicester, as is Dan Cole. Tom Youngs comes back on and Logo Mulipola joins the game as well.

4:30PM

Harlequins 28-25 Leicester Tigers, 64 minutes

Harlequins spill the restart and it's a Leicester scrum. Sinckler and Genge are enjoying themselves here. There could be a flashpoint coming...

4:29PM

Match action

Jack Clifford has been excellent again.

4:27PM

Try, Alofa Alofa! Harlequins 28-25 Leicester Tigers, 62 minutes

Excellent play from Danny Care, who orchestrated that attack. He spins to the blindside and plays a lovely pass to Alofa, who surges through.

4:26PM

Harlequins 21-25 Leicester Tigers, 60 minutes

Genge and Collier are back with us. Well, Collier isn't because Kyle Sinckler is staying on. Harlequins win e penalty and are into the Leicester 22...now they're within five metres with penalty advantage...

4:23PM

Ben Coles at the ground...

4:23PM

Try, Greg Bateman! Harlequins 21-25 Leicester Tigers, 57 minutes

What a game this is. Leicester are thriving in the open expanses with George Ford pulling the strings very nicely. The fly-half goes to the line and sends Bateman scurrying through. Mike Brown cannot bring him down and, with Ford's conversion, tigers have a four-point lead.

4:18PM

Try, Jonny May! Harlequins 21-18 Leicester Tigers, 54 minutes

It's getting very fractured now. Sinckler knocks on as Harlequins are in phase play and Ben Youngs sparks a lovely counter. Matt Toomua flings a gorgeous flat pass to May to capitalise on an overlap. Classy score.

4:14PM

Yellow cards, Will Collier (Harlequins), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

Ian Tempest has had enough of the scrum re-sets. He's sin-binned two props.

Kyle Sinckler comes on and wins a penalty immediately. Then has a bit of a swear. He's fired up.

Marcus Simth has also left the field. That looks like a muscular injury to his right leg.

4:12PM

Match action

Here are Mike Brown and Harry Wells going at it.

4:09PM

Harlequins 21-11 Leicester Tigers, 47 minutes

Chris Robshaw is coming off. He looked to be knocked out while Leicester were in possession before Luamanu's try.

4:07PM

Try, Mat Luamanu! Harlequins 21-11 Leicester Tigers, 46 minutes

Almost impressively insipid from Leicester. They try to go wide but Veainu cannot hold onto Ford's pass. Smith flicks the loose ball to Yarde, who releases Luamanu. Two tries in two minutes from Leicester Tigers mistakes.

4:05PM

Try, Danny Care! Harlequins 16-11 Leicester Tigers, 45 minutes

Total capitulation from Leicester. Their own scrum splinters, Alofa Alofa speeds down the wing and Ellis Genge is offside as the ball is recycled. Danny Care takes a quick tap and scores a straightforward try.

4:02PM

Harlequins 9-11 Leicester Tigers, 43 minutes

Harlequins are looking very promising. Their attack is brought back for Jamie Roberts' forward pass to the impressive Jack Clifford.

4:01PM

Harlequins 9-11 Leicester Tigers, 41 minutes

Harry Wells cannot roll away from the tackle. Harlequins have an early penalty and Marcus Smith goes to touch.

4:00PM

Second half

George Ford restarts the game. Marland Yarde takes and Matt Smith fells him.

3:59PM

...and he's had some traffic to deal with

3:55PM

Worry over at Allianz Park

Billy Vunipola has limped off for Saracens...

3:48PM

Maggie Alphonsi's view

3:48PM

Onlooker

3:45PM

Half-time | Harlequins 9-11 Leicester Tigers

Sione Kalamafoni takes the ball from the base and Ben Youngs kicks it out.

3:45PM

Ben Coles at the ground

3:44PM

Harlequins 9-11 Leicester Tigers, 39 minutes

Chris Robshaw is having an excellent game. He harries Ben Youngs into a very rare kicking error. However, Rob Buchanan's throw is not straight. Scrum to Tigers.

3:43PM

Penalty, George Ford! Harlequins 9-11 Leicester Tigers, 38 minutes

Very good game, this.

3:41PM

Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 37 minutes

Ellis Genge picks, goes and wins a penalty for Leicester when Rob Buchanan cannot roll away. George Ford will look to take three points and the lead.

3:40PM

Quiet advice

Nice shot of Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler having a chat.

3:40PM

Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 35 minutes

Leicester's lineout is stolen by Chris Robshaw but Tigers come again and Ben Youngs bursts through. He grubbers for George Ford to chase but Marcus Smith is back to save the day.

3:37PM

Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 32 minutes

Referee Ian Tempest penalises Leicester from the same five-metre scrum! Ellis Genge looks incredulous.

Harlequins are into their expansive shape from the ensuing lineout with Jack Clifford throwing a lovely offload to Jamie Roberts. There is a knock-on, though. Back to a Leicester scrum...and another penalty to the visitors.

3:35PM

Ben Coles at the Twickenham Stoop

3:34PM

Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 30 minutes

Leicester opt for a scrum and eke out two more penalties.

Charlie Walker won't be returning after his head injury assessment, which is a shame. Neither will Dominic Ryan of Leicester.

3:33PM

Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 28 minutes

Mike Brown has turned the tetchy gauge up to 11. Leicester are allowed a chance to attack when Marland Yarde spills the restart and Telusa Veainu goes close again, only to be stopped by a high tackle. Penalty Leicester, but not before some handbags initiated by Mr Brown.

3:31PM

Match action

Marcus Smith has had to deal with some heavy traffic, but he's distributing very nicely.

3:29PM

Penalty, Marcus Smith! Harlequins 9-8 Leicester Tigers, 26 minutes

Another excellent strike.

3:28PM

Harlequins 6-8 Leicester Tigers, 25 minutes

Dan Cole flies out of the line to smash Marcus Smith but then deliberately knocks on a pass from Danny Care. Marcus Smith will look to put Harlequins in front.

3:27PM

Alma mater

3:26PM

Harlequins 6-8 Leicester Tigers, 22 minutes

And now 18 year-old Marcus Smith *almost* makes 70-cap Ben Youungs look very silly. Youngs went back to field a bouncing ball and threw a blind pass in-field. Smith stole through and intercepted but was bundled into touch.

3:24PM

Fair to say...

3:23PM

Harlequins 6-8 Leicester Tigers, 19 minutes

Wow. That is beauty and the beast from Leiecster. Telusa Veainu utterly shreds Harlequins, beating about five men before streaking into the hosts' half. He links with Jonny May, who throws a shocking pass that Nick Malouf cannot gather. Let off for Harlequins, who have lost Charlie Walker to a head injury assessment.

3:20PM

Ben Coles on Marcus Smith watch at the Twickenham Stoop

3:20PM

Penalty, Marcus Smith! Harlequins 6-8 Leicester Tigers, 16 minutes

Ellis Genge gets overeager at a breakdown and Smith has an easy chance to reduce his team's deficit.

3:17PM

Harlequins 3-8 Leicester Tigers, 16 minutes

A rarity. Leicester lose their own scrum ball and Harlequins can press on the edge of the Leicester 22.

3:14PM

Harlequins 3-8 Leicester Tigers, 14 minutes

Robust defence from Tigers sees Marcus Smith crowded out but the visitors concede a penalty as Ben Youngs cannot roll away.

3:13PM

Try, Telusa Veainu! Harlequins 3-8 Leicester Tigers, 10 minutes

The maul was sacked but Leicester react quickly. They go through a few punchy phases before spreading the ball right. Jonny May is off his wing in a second wave to create the extra man and Veainu shunts over from close range.

Ford's conversion misses, but his side have made a strong start.

3:09PM

Harlequins 3-3 Leicester Tigers, 8 minutes

Tigers win the lineout and a strong maul wins a penalty. They're in the corner again...and have another penalty advantage.

3:08PM

Harlequins 3-3 Leicester Tigers, 7 minutes

Leicester work hard to win the restart back and go wide, where Ellis Genge gallops over the gain-line. Leicester recycle robustly off the next phase and win a penalty as Mark Lambert cannot roll away. They go to the corner...

3:07PM

Bright start for Mike Brown

3:06PM

Penalty, George Ford! Harlequins 3-3 Leicester Tigers, 5 minutes

Immediate response for the visitors. Harlequins fail to gather the restart cleanly and the Leicester scrum squeezes a penalty out of Will Collier.

Ford bisects the posts from around 30 metres.

3:04PM

Penalty, Marcus Smith! Harlequins 3-0 Leicester Tigers, 3 minutes

Easy start for the teenager.

3:04PM

Harlequins 0-0 Leicester Tigers, 2 minutes

Mat Luamanu finds some space on the left as Harlequins go beyond 10 phases. Smith chips into the corner and the weight of the kick means Jonny May must play it. He throws a hospital pass to Telusa Veainu, who is enveloped and Harlequins win a penalty.

3:01PM

Kick-off

Marcus Smith starts the game, Telusa Veainu collects and Ben Youngs clears. Mike Brown brings it right back.

2:59PM

Players out

Leicester skipper Tom Youngs leads out his team. A win brings their season right back on track.

And here come Harlequins, James Horwill at the front of their line.

2:56PM

Scene-setter

The conditions - still and mild - are perfect. The surface looks pristine.

2:54PM

Five minutes to go...

2:50PM

First bit of air-time...

...yep, this guy is going to be on the screen a fair bit this afternoon.

This tweet, from a year ago, is excellent. These two go up against one another in just 10 minutes.

2:47PM

John Kingston

Kingston also says Kyle Sinckler, on the bench today, and Will Collier will be sharing a lot of game-time this season.

2:43PM

Matt O'Connor

Leicester's Australian head coach also highlights the lineout as an area Leicester must improve.

He expects compatriot James Horwill, the Harlequins captain who was immense against Wasps, to come after his side's set piece.

2:41PM

Another Leicester exit

Richard Blaze, Leicester's forwards coach, left the club this week with immediate effect - citing personal reasons as his reason for wanting to move on.

Ben Kay, a BT Sport pundit who also happens to be on the board of directors at Tigers, tells us that there was nothing sinister about Blaze's decision. Brett Deacon takes temporary charge of the Leicester pack.

2:38PM

Danny Care

Ben Youngs' opposite number Danny Care, a long-time England ally, is delighted to be back at the Stoop. Eddie Jones will be watching the match-up at scrum-half very closely, you'd have thought.

2:36PM

Ben Youngs

As expected, conditions are excellent at the Twickenham Stoop. Ben Youngs says Leicester simply must get their lineout right.

Gloucester lock and Tigers old boy Ed Slater derailed it last week at Welford Road, depriving the hosts of a platform.

2:30PM

Hype up

Here's a nice preview video from BT Sport.

You'll notice that Harlequins wing Charlie Walker, who has scored in all three games this season, is a prominent protagonist. As a Leicester Tigers Academy product, he'll be eager to impress today.

2:25PM

Last night

The fourth round of English domestic fixtures is already underway. Gloucester held on to beat bottom-placed Worcester last night at Kingsholm thanks to two tries from Ollie Thorley.

Read Kate Rowan's report here.

2:19PM

Team news

There are enticing head-to-heads across each of those backlines.

2:17PM

45 minutes until kick-off

There are other players playing today.

Although their performance was far from polished, Leicester registered their first win of the Premiership campaign seven days ago against Gloucester.

Ben Youngs scored a couple of tries. He reckons his partnership with close mate - and England colleague - George Ford is growing all the time.

2:15PM

Boy wonder

Right, let's get this out the way early. Unless you have been living under a rock this week, you will have realised that there has been quite a lot of fuss about Harlequins' 18 year-old fly-half Marcus Smith.

Yesterday, he was named in England's 33-man squad for a two-day training camp in Oxford next week.

Last Sunday, he continued a promising start to the season with an assured showing against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.

For a comprehensive Smith fact-file, click here.

2:10PM

Good afternoon

Hi there and welcome to the first Telegraph live text commentary of the fourth round of Aviva Premiership action.

We'll be tuning into Harlequins' meeting with Leicester Tigers, which promises to be extremely intriguing.

If these shots of Leicester arriving at the Twickenham Stoop are anything to go by, the conditions look fair. We might be in for a fast-paced cracker.