Reserves Snatch Narrow Victory
By AlanQuin
April 11 2004
A penalty in the penultimate minute of injury time enabled the 2nd XV to win this final Zurich A league match after Bath had led by a single point as the final whistle approached.
That Bath would be looking for revenge for their resounding defeat at The Recreation Ground last week was certain. Their team had two internationals in Matt Perry and Robbie Fleck and was heavier and more experienced than the largely young Quins side missing many of their regular players.
There was a strong wind and a damp pitch as Bath kicked off and almost immediately won a scrum for a knock-on. Quick ball from the scrum saw the Bath winger, Joe Mbu, almost score in the left corner but was just in touch before he crossed the line. Although the resulting line-out was won Bath were awarded a penalty for offside. They kicked for touch and although Bath lost that lineout, they were awarded a penalty which Gareth Knox kicked successfully to open the scoring.
Errors abounded on both sides with frequent mishandling and the ball spilling in the tackle. Both sides sought to exert pressure and dominate the game but foundered on the errors. Good breaks from Josh Taumololo and Tom Allen both ended when passes went astray or were knocked-on. The Bath lineout, with taller and heavier jumpers, gave them a good supply of quick ball while Quins began to dominate in the scrum. This increased when the Bath No. 8, Scott Gray, was shown a yellow card after 20 minutes.
But aided by the wind and good kicking, Bath were able to pen Quins back into their own half of the field and increasingly into their own twenty-two metre area. The defence, however, was excellent. Then injuries to Tom Allen and Reg De Jager brought on Sean Crowley and Tom Muggridge.
Eventually the pressure told and Bath were awarded another penalty as Quins strayed offside and again Knox scored for Bath to lead 0 – 6 just after the first half-hour.
It was another five minutes before a magnificent break by Josh Taumololo through the midfield found Henry Barrett in support on his right and he took the pass with ease and crossed to go round under the posts and leave Taumololo the easiest of conversions. The kick hit the left post but went through to add the points. 7 – 6.
Bath had time for another attack and another penalty, duly kicked by Knox, took the teams to half-time with Bath in the lead 7 – 9.
With the wind now at their backs Quins went on the attack and after ten minutes a good break down the right wing and good interpassing between Jewell and the full-back Crowley saw the latter cross for a fine try. Taumololo added the conversion and the lead stretched to 14- 9. Three minutes later Quins were awarded a penalty which Taumololo slotted over from 30 metres to increase the lead and a few minutes later repeated the success with another kick for a lead of 20 – 9 as the last quarter of the match began.
Simon Keogh, having played throughout the Premiership match against London Irish the previous day, had replaced Scott Bemand who withdrew through injury shortly before the match, now was substituted by Duncan James, an active and useful young scrum-half.
But now Bath began to press very hard. Penalties were kicked to touch and from the resultant line-outs Bath set up a good rolling maul which was almost across the line. Only good defence and further penalties prevented the score. Almost inevitably the referee reached for a yellow card and this time it was Quins’ No. 8, Tom Guest, who went to the bin. Roy Winter was brought on for Tom Parker. But eventually the pressure told and Bath scored the try. Knox converted and the lead had been reduced to 20 – 16 with fifteen minutes remaining.
For the next ten minutes Bath exerted great pressure which was defended very well if rather frantically. Penalty followed penalty as Quins infringed in the tackle area or went offside. Five successive line-outs on the 5 metre line were resisted as Bath sought to drive from the throw. From the sixth, however, the ball came quickly along the line left for Mbu to score. The conversion was missed, but Bath now led by 20 – 21 with only injury time remaining.
Quins exerted great pressure from the restart and gained possession of the ball. Their attempts to score another try were resisted but then Bath were adjudged to be offside in front of their posts. From 15 metres Taumololo made no mistake in putting Quins back in the lead as the clock ticked away the last seconds of the match.
Later, Luke Sherriff, who has led the 2nd XV with skill and enthusiasm, expressed his satisfaction with the result. He thought the youngsters had played well. They wanted to win and that is the mentality that he believes is necessary in the club. Colin Osborne, their coach also expressed his satisfaction with the result. These were the sort of games that had to be won rather than those where you win by fifty points. This was a very young side against a very experienced Bath team.
So to the two leg play-off for the league title against Northampton Wanderers.. The first leg is at The Stoop on Easter Monday, 12th April and the second on Tuesday 27th April at Franklin Gardens. The team deserves support in their effort to become first winners of the Zurich A League.
TEAMS:
Harlequins: 15. Henry Barratt, 14. Rob Jewell, 13. Tom Allen, (Crowley 25m) 12. Andy Reay, 11. Matt Moore, 10. Josh Taumalolo, 9. Simon Keogh, (James 60m) 1. Laurent Gomez, 2. Cameron Dott, 3. Reg DeJager, (Muggridge 26m) 4. Tom Parker, (Winters 65m) 5. Bill Davison, 6. Gavin Hart, 7. Luke Sherriff (Capt.), 8. Tom Guest
Replacements: 16. Marlow Warrington-Matti, 17. Tom Muggridge, 18. Roy Winters, 19. Nd Monye, 20. Sean Crawley, 21. Duncan James
Bath United: 15 Matt Perry, 14 Gareth Knox, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 Spencer Davey, 11 Joe Mbu, 10 Mitch Burton, 9 Ross Blake, 1 David Barnes (Capt.), 2 Rob Hawkins, 3 Steve Bennett, 4 John Gould, 5 James Hudson, 6 Dan Smith, 7 Sam Hocking, 8 Scott Gray,
Replacements: 16 Hentie Martens, 17 Dave Ward, 18 Chas Meddick , 19 Mike Baxter, 20 Wayne Sprangle, 21 Andy Edwards, 22 Jake Babb