Army routed at Aldershot

By Alanquin
March 6 2004

Mark Evans positively beamed with satisfaction at the performance of the 2nd XV who trounced the Army XV by 17 – 61, running in eight tries and a penalty try with some exciting running rugby.

From the start Quins went on the attack and in the first minute a superb break by Willis who passed to Williams and then on to Luke Sheriff only for the skipper to knock on over the line as he went to ground the ball. But only ten minutes later a powerful rolling maul started outside the Army twenty-two metre line was pulled down virtually on the try line and a penalty try was inevitable. Josh Taumololo added the two points.

Shortly after, a penalty to the Army on the Quins ten metre line was well kicked by their captain, Mel Roberts, to bring the score to 3 – 7. Encouraged by this score they mounted a series of attacks which the Quins’ defence resisted strongly. Quins also counter-attacked, and following a line–out deep in the Army half, Josh Taumololo broke two tackles to score the second try. With the conversion the score was 3 – 14.

The backs made a number of excellent runs which failed to score. Mike Brown had one spectacular break which was only stopped a few feet from the line after a series of excellent and skilful passes had almost cut the Army defence to ribbons. Then the forwards with a series of pick-ups and drives added to the score when Luke Sherriff went over under the posts. Taumololo converted. 3 – 21.

The Army again launched a series of attacks and a penalty took them to a line out on the five metre line. Once again a score did not happen due to a knock-on over the try line. A penalty in a kickable position was missed and Quins were lucky not have Taumololo sin-binned for high tackle. From the penalty an attacking line-out again was driven towards the line and Darrell Ball dived over to score. Roberts converted and the Army began a come-back. 10 – 21.

Just before half-time a quick tap penalty and break by Ben Willis, having a good game at scrum-half, allowed Rob Jewell to cross under the posts. Josh Taumololo added the conversion and the interval followed with the score at 10 – 28.

The second half began with great urgency from Quins, now with the wind behind them. Cameron Dott replaced James Hayter. One felt the floodgates would open. And soon the scores began to come. The forwards again drove the ball upfield for Kai Horstman to force his way over for the try. With the added points, 10 – 35.

A fine run by Matt Moore was stopped by a superb, despairing tap tackle when the winger was almost through to the line. But then Tom Williams burst through the middle of the field passing to Rob Jewell for the try. Taumololo again converted, 10 – 42.

Another fine break by Tom Williams then allowed Matt Moore to run through the defence to score. When Taumololo came to kick the conversion, the tee had gone missing and after waiting for almost a minute, he gave up an nonchalantly drop kicked the conversion from a quite difficult angle in best Sevens style. 10 – 49

Another fine attack saw Tom Allen through to score and shortly after he was able to give the final scoring pass to Laurent Gomez, out on the wing as props seem to be these days, for Quins ninth try. With only one conversion successful the score was 10 – 61.

With injury time tricking away, a good attack by the Army found Quins with their foot off the throttle and the Army with an overlap and a consolation try. Roberts converted with the last kick of the match. The final score was 17 – 61

This was a thoroughly entertaining match with excellent running and skilful handling. There were fine performances from Horstmann, Cracknell and Sherriff in the forwards and from Taumololo, Allen, Brown and Tom Williams in the backs. Once again it was difficult to understand why Tom Williams was not with the England Under-21 team.

Harlequins 2nd XV: 15. T. Williams, 14. M. Brown, 13. T. Allen, 12. R. Jewell, 11. M. Moore, 10. J. Taumalolo, 9. B. Willis, 1. T. Muggridge, 2. J. Hayter, 3. L. Gomez, 4. R. Winters, 5. S. Miall, 6. C. Cracknell, 7. L. Sherriff (Capt.), 8. K. Hortsmann

Replacements: 16. C. Dott, 17. G. Rise, 18. J. Evans, 19. B. Creed, 20. D. James, 21. T. Mason, 22. H. Barratt

Scorers: Tries: Jewell (2), Penalty, Taumalolo, Sherriff, Hortsmann, Moore, Allen, Gomez Conversions: Taumalolo (8)