First Run Out In Issoire:Claremont ASM 26-17 Quins

By AlanQuin
September 4 2006

In their first pre-season match Harlequins lost to Clermont Auvergne by 26 points to 17. To lose is never satisfactory, but there was quite a lot to be satisfied with in the overall performance.

Handicapped by having two players sin-binned and a French referee who decisions were often incomprehensible, the result was probably inevitable.

A sunny day, not unduly hot, and a good crowd of about 6000 had watched Brive defeat Bourgoin by 12 points to 10 before Harlequins took the field. They were dressed, bizarrely, in navy blue shirts and white with lottery type numbers on their backs. Haircuts and new, unfamiliar players did not assist identification.

Immediate pressure by Clermont from the start almost penetrated the Quins’ defence and only a knock on with the line at their mercy prevented the first score. At the resulting scrum, Clermont conceded a free kick and a further 10 metres for dissent and Jarvis found a good touch. Almost immediately, however, Quins were again under pressure as Clermont had a line out 5 metres from the Quins’ line and conceded a penalty for pulling down the resultant catch and drive. Another attacking line out resulted and this time the ball was moved through the backs and the Clermont winger cut through the defence for the try. The conversion failed but Clermont led 5 – 0 after only 5 minutes.

Quins now made determined efforts to attack and the break out led to an attacking line out deep in the Clermont twenty two. A poor cross field kick by Jarvis allowed possession to be lost. But Quins continued to try to apply pressure and in particular Steve So’oialo was in full attack mode, playing at speed and running at and through the opposition, encouraging backs and forwards and generally creating opportunities, in one of the best performances of the match. An attacking line out on the Clermont 5 metre line led to a penalty almost in front of the posts and Jarvis took the easy points. Twelve minutes gone and the score was 5 – 3 to Clermont.

Clermont responded and increased their pressure on the Quins’ defence. They might easily have scored had their backs not ignored a four man overlap and the ball carrier squandered the try by knocking on over the line. A series of scrums followed until the ball ran loose and Jordan Turner-Hall snaffled it and ran to gain a good break-out by Quins. A penalty against Clermont for offside on the halfway line allowed Jarvis to find a good touch on the Clermont twenty two.

Then some fine Quins’ attacks aided by excellent passing and penetration eventually paid off with a try by George Robson and a good conversion by Jarvis to give Quins the lead at 5 – 10 after 20 minutes. Quins continued to attack, winning a Clermont line out and with So’oialo still in attack mode and with the forwards, particularly Spanghero carrying strongly and well. But each attack ended in penalties awarded to Clermont for offside and offences in the ruck until a warning was delivered to Andre Vos and in due course that was followed a few minutes later with a yellow card for George Robson.

With only fourteen men, Quins now came under increasing pressure as Clermont sought to penetrate the Quins defence. Occasional errors by the French side relieved their pressure. An accidental offside, a free kick conceded at a scrum helped Quins. However it could not last and the sustained pressure saw Clermont score again with only four minutes of the half remaining. The conversion brought the score to 12 – 10 to Clermont.

It might have been worse. A tap down from Vos at a line out saw the Clermont No. 8 break through the line and collect the bouncing ball and run unopposed to the line and only a lucky knock on saved another score.

The second half was largely inconclusive for much of the first twenty minutes with Clermont still perssing strongly and having more possession than Quins. Both sides began to use substitutes in the case of Quins not always recognisable ones. One that was noticeable was the substitution of Masson for Turner-Hall. Soon after his arrival Masson produced what appeared to be a good but massive hit on the Clermont full-back as he came to earth under a high ball. The immediate displeasure of the crowd assisted in the decision of the referee to show Masson a yellow card and Quins were back to fourteen men.

Clermont were now in the ascendant again. They pressed Quins with a series of attacking line outs. Brown once just beat the Clermont backs to the touch down. But, inevitably, the pressure told and from another catch and drive Clermont scored another try and with the successful conversion led 19 – 10 with 13 minutes to go. A few minutes later, in a repeat of the near miss at the end of the first half the No. 8 again broke through to collect the ball on the tap down and this time the score was good as was the conversion effectively sealing victory at 26 – 10.

Quins were not yet finished and had the consolation of a final try from a catch and drive which Jarvis converted to leave the final score at 26 -17. The result means that Quins’ opponents on Friday will be Bourgoin.

After the match, Head Coach Andy Friend said he was not dissatisfied with the performances. It was the first time some of the players had played together and when they had the ball they had played well. There were things to be ironed out, but that was to be expected. On the whole he was satisfied.