Division Six West: Cowling Harlequins 10 Meltham All Blacks 50

HARLEQUINS had three players red-carded before their match was abandoned after 72 minutes.

Jordan Powell was dismissed for questioning the referee’s decision to award a try to Meltham, then winger Ashley Wood was sent off for an alleged trip, and finally Craig Nicholson was given his marching orders after stripping the ball in the tackle.

The referee took the decision to abandon the game when the Quins questioned his decision to remove Nicholson from the action.

Meltham had got out of the blocks quickly with three well-executed tries before the Harlequins opened their account with a score by Jack Niniss-Stodart after good work by both Danny Windle and Daz Greenwood.

The dismissals of wingers Wood and Powell, followed by another Meltham try, left Harlequins 24-4 down at the break and facing a huge task.

Liam Mitchell, Daniel Spencer and Chris Ashworth combined to provide Nicholson with the chance to carve through the defence, with Scott Cunningham adding the conversion.

Nicholson was red-carded two minutes later as the farcical game was brought to a premature end.

Harlequins are at home to Kings Cross Park A on Saturday.