Hartley happy as Saints complete top-four treble

Hartley and Co claimed a 23-9 victory against Conor O’Shea’s side to further their bid for a top-two place.

Quins’ named was added to a six-strong list of victims in the Aviva Premiership at the Gardens this season, with Bath and Saracens among the other teams to lose there.

That means Saints have seen off all three of the league’s current top four on home turf, racking up 107 points in the process.

And Hartley, who scored the second try in the win against Quins, said: “New year, new start and we wanted to start with a win.

“The other motivator was that was the other top-four side to come here and we’ve beaten so it’s another tick in the box for us. It’s positive all round.”

Saints showed both sides of their game in the Quins success, impressing up front and in their use of the backs.

George North’s superb try was the catalyst for the triumph and Hartley was delighted to see his team adapt to the slippery conditions.

“You’ve got to be flexible to keep winning,” said the England hooker. “You need to play a free-flowing game that Harlequins are so good at and flip it on its head and play the corners like we did on Friday.

“Stevie Myler, Tommy Collins putting the ball in behind was brilliant. It kept us on the front foot.

“It was dictated by a niggly set piece game but two yellow cards for them from driving mauls and penalties is good news for us, that we can go to that style of game.”