In-form Quins too strong for Bristol

However, Bristol - themselves seeking a their third successive victory - pressed the visitors hard and were denied a losing bonus point from the fifth encounter between the teams this season.

The game was less than five minutes old when referee David Rose, working on the advice of his touch judge, had to exert his authority when Bristol prop Jason Hobson was penalised for throwing a punch in a tussle on the ground with Quins prop Ceri Jones and hooker Tani Fuga.

Quins took the lead when number eight Tom Guest passed for left wing Charlie Amesbury to score the game's first try.

Adrian Jarvis, kicking into the wind, failed with his conversion attempt but Bristol number 10 Ed Barnes showed his kicking skills with a long-range penalty which quickly reduced the arrears. Bristol scored a try when wing Tom Arscott stepped inside full-back Mike Brown to touch down.

Barnes missed his touchline conversion and also failed with two penalties after Jarvis had levelled the scores with a 22-metre kick.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men within five minutes of the restart when Jarvis was yellow carded for persistent infringement. Rose awarded a penalty try which Barnes converted .

Chris Malone reduced the arrears to four points with a penalty and Quins regained the lead as the game went into the final quarter with Brown stretching for the line after taking the scoring pass from scrum-half Danny Care. Jarvis converted from out wide but missed a long-range penalty before being replaced.

Brown was stopped just short of the line but the forwards went to work and drove over - with lock George Robson credited with the try.

And Quins sealed the game and secured a bonus point when Robson intercepted a pass from Bristol skipper Matt Salter on the half way before scoring in the left corner.