Ten Try Win Takes Quins To The Top

By AlanQuin
March 10 2004

In an exciting and entertaining match Harlequins 2nd XV thrashed Gloucester by 62 point to 24 points, scoring ten tries and exacting substantial retribution for the loss inflicted by their opponents at Kingsholm in December.

The four points for the win and the additional try bonus point take them to the top of the southern group in the Zurich A League.

Both teams made bright starts, showing every indication of trying to run the ball and spread wide in attack and the initial thrust by Quins ended with a penalty to their opponents. Shortly afterwards Quins conceded a penalty in their own half and with the benefit of a stiffish breeze, fly-half Brad Davies opened the scoring to put the visitors 0 – 3 after five minutes.

The reply was not long in coming. Dune’s cross-kick was juggled and caught under pressure by Rob Jewell on the right wing. He set off for the line but was tackled about twenty metres short. He was able to pass out of the tackle to Andy Dunne inside him for the fly-half to score under the posts. Dunne converted and Quins were in the lead 7- 3 after ten minutes.

From the restart Quins set up a rolling maul which was brought down illegally just short of the line. The resultant lineout ended with a penalty to the visitors for offside and the attack was ended. In a subsequent Quins attack however Tom Williams sustained an injury to his left hand and was replaced by Adrian Jarvis. Play went back and forward in midfield with handling errors on both sides. Gloucester missed another penalty kick from almost the same position the one scored earlier.

Quins went back on the attack and a good run down the left by Moore was passed towards the centre and Jim Evans broke through the tackles to score. Dunne duly converted. 14 – 3. But now Quins were dominating possession and Gloucester had only scraps. That they were alert was shown, after almost a half-hour of play, when after a superb break down the centre by Andy Dunne, his pass was intercepted by the Gloucester right wing, Tom Jarvis. The winger’s seventy-five metre run to score left the defence too far adrift to catch him. Frost converted. 14 – 10.

The Harlequin reply was swift and skilful. A clever grubber kick through the Gloucester defensive line was gathered by Moore and the score was inevitable. Dunne converted. 21 – 10 Further skilful passing and good running, including a long, mazy cross-field effort by Henry Barratt failed to bring further points. Gloucester managed to strike back when they managed to manufacture an overlap down their left wing and their No.8, Southern, scored in the corner. With the conversion successful, the half-time score was 21 – 24.

Almost from the restart astute poaching by Frost allowed him to steal an interception of a juggling ball and break through to score. The subsequent conversion regained the lead for the visitors at 21 – 24. That was to be their last score. Thereafter Quins scored 41 points without reply as they piled on the pressure which left Gloucester in almost total disarray.

After 47 minutes, a rolling maul following a line-out allowed Andy Dunne through for the try and his subsequent conversion was followed a few minutes later by his having to leave the field due to an injury. Another try was soon to follow when a fine move which involved both forwards and backs was almost finished by Jewell who managed to pass to Bemand for the scrum-half to score easily. Jarvis converted to bring the score to 35 – 24. A successful penalty kick by Jarvis increased the lead still further.

Scores now followed at very regular intervals. First the forwards produced a rolling maul which went fully twenty-five metres before Jim Evans touched down for his second try. The conversion was missed. At a maul on the half-way line, with turnover ball, Matt Moore suddenly sprinted clear and ran 50 metres for the next try. Jarvis converted and Quins had reached 50 points.

There was more to come. A superb break by Mel Deane found support from Adrian Jarvis who scored easily by missed adding the extra points. Finally, another line-out deep in Gloucester’s twenty-two was driven by the pack and Ceri Jones scored the try. Jarvis converted with the last kick of the game.

It is almost invidious to try to pick out players for particular praise. This was almost total fifteen man rugby. It was quick, skilful and entertaining. In the forwards, Horstmann, Evans, and Cracknell stood out, while Dunne, Jewell and Jarvis did the same in the backs together with Moore and Deane.

So Quins went to the top of the southern group table and are on course to win that group. They have still to play Bath twice. They should be able to approach those fixtures with confidence after a demolition of Bath at The Rec earlier in the season. The next match is against London Wasps next Monday, 15 March, at Rosslyn Park R.F.C. Roehampton.

NEC Harlequins: 15. T. Williams, 14. M. Moore, 13. H. Barratt, 12. M. Deane, 11. R. Jewell, 10. A. Dunne, 9. S.Bemand, 1. C. Jones, 2. J. Hayter, 3. J. Dawson, 4. J. Evans, 5. S. Miall, 6. C. Cracknell, 7. L. Sherriff (Capt.), 8. K. Hortsmann

Replacements: 16. L. Gomez, 17. C. Dott, 18. T. Parker, 19. R. Winters, 20. B. Willis, 21. A. Jarvis, 22. A. Reay

Scorers:
Tries: Dunne (2), Moore (2), Evans (2), Bemand, Jarvis, Jones
Conversions: Dunne (4), Jarvis (3)
Penalties: Jarvis

Gloucester: 15. R van der Bergh, 14. T. Jarvis, 13. M. Foster, 12. A. Frost, 11. F. Pimlow, 10. B. Davies, 9. S. Amor, 1. P. Johnstone (Capt.), 2. D. du Preez, 3. M. Guess, 4. M. Rimmer, 5. B. Hughes, 6. J. Tideswell, 7. J. Merriman, 8. N. Southern

Replacements: 16. C. Collins, 17. N. Wood, 18. T. Skelding, 19. C. Patterson, 20. N. Hunter, 21. N. Runciman, 22. S. Taylor

Scorers:
Tries: Jarvis, Southern, Frost
Conversions: Davies (2), Frost
Penalties: Davies