HARLEQUINS 9, SARACENS 22

STEVE BORTHWICK faces a race against time to be fit for England's autumn internationals.

The Red Rose skipper will have a scan on his damaged ribs today but Saracens boss Brendan Venter admits he is "worried" about his talisman.

Borthwick was forced off with a minute left on the clock as table-toppers Saracens recorded a comfortable win over crisis-club Quins.

Venter, after watching his unbeaten team inflict Quins' third defeat of the season, said: "Steve is a worry. He's so courageous for us. He hurt his rib and stayed on at the end which I am massively thankful for, but he is sore.

"He'll have a scan tomorrow. We can't speculate on how bad it is but it would be a big blow if he is out."

To make matters worse for England boss Martin Johnson, promising centre Jordan Turner-Hall was helped off in agony as Quins' post-Bloodgate misery showed no sign of abating.

The 21-year-old centre suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder to leave the Quins faithful wondering what else can possibly go wrong.

Turner-Hall, who had been pencilled in to face Australia on November 7, will also have a scan today.

Quins boss John Kingston said: "We have been decimated by injuries."

Sarries barely had to break sweat as rudderless Quins failed to lift themselves from the foot of the table.

Fly-half Derick Hougaard kicked 17 points and Kameli Ratuvou got the only try of a poor game.

Quins played all the rugby in the first half but only threatened to cross once when Chris Wyles was hauled down inches short by Noah Cato.

Nick Evans kicked all Quins' points.

Kingston dismissed suggestions the manner of ex-boss Dean Richards' departure is affecting his players.

He said: "Losing Dean was like a bereavement and how you deal with bereavement differs.

"But the way we are preparing and working on the field is so similar to what we were doing last season."

• SCORERS - Harlequins: pens Evans 3. Saracens: try Ratuvou; con Hougaard; pens Hougaard 3; drop goals Hougaard 2.

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