Harlequin Amateurs 46 - 19 Finchley

By Hillary Carr
September 26 2005

The Amateurs reversed their early season disappointment at UCS Old Boys in the league by putting on a stylish display of attacking rugby and solid defence to turn over Finchley who last season had been 2 divisions above Quins.

The game kicked off late due to delay from traffic problems but immediately Quins set up a solid attacking platform. Finchley, for their part were obviously going to employ strong arm tactics and the referee’s whistle was constantly busy all afternoon for their misdemeanours and infringements. The Amateurs, who normally retaliate, kept their cool and capitalised on Finchley’s errors.

Ten minutes had gone when the Finchley back line was stopped in their tracks and Dave Schneider, who had an outstanding game, popped up with the ball and sprinted 30 metres to score close to the posts. Donald Baines at full back, who had a successful afternoon with the boot, converted.

The Quins back line began to stretch the opposition backs, neatly conducted by skipper Ross Webster. Eight minutes after the first try, centre Adam Wallace intercepted a Finchley pass to double the Amateurs lead after Baines again converted.

It was ever so apparent that Quins Amateurs were dictating the terms of the game. From the set scrums, Jim Dewar (having just announced his engagement!) enjoyed breaking with the ball and releasing the back row or the backs. Whenever the opposition got the ball, there was Dan Camacho, playing flanker instead of hooker, hunting down and smothering the ball-carrier for Schneider to pick up and counter attack. This led to Quins’ 3rd try; Schneider sorinti8ng to the line from 30 metres out. Baines added a further penalty to his conversion which saw Quins with a comfortable lead at half-time 24-7.

Baines added a further penalty just two minutes after the restart and then Dan Camacho put his name on the scoreboard with another runaway sprint of some 30 metres for the try line. Baines again converted to see Quins with a comfortable lead of 34-7.

The Amateurs maintained their composure, the rush defence keeping Finchley on the back foot most of the afternoon and Ben Fretwell putting in the hardest hit ever seen on his midfield opponent that caused an audible wince from the watching spectators an players alike. Stern tackling like this and some deft kicking to the wings kept Finchley contained and the backs started to cruise more easily, with firstly Matt Williams and then Harry Hurst running in two lovely tries, the latter from a beautiful passage of the ball through the backs’ hands, stepping in and brushing aside their opposition. Baines converted Williams’ try and Quins were leading comfortably 46-7.

The task now was to avoid conceding points, but with Tom Curry leaving the field, the switch of Camacho back to hooker handed the initiative back to Finchley who then sniped two quick tries at the end to add some respect to the score: 46-19.

Harlequins Amateurs:
1. Andy Lawrence 2. Ian Pitt 3. Lee Rose 4. Malcolm Wall 5. Tom Curry 6. dan Camacho 7. James Dewar 8. David Schneider 9. Chris Hugall 10. Ross Webster (c) 11. Matt Williams 12. Harry Hurst 13. Adam Wallace 14. Ben Fretwell 15. Donald Baines 16. Rupert Shaw 17. Alan Hawley 18. Lucian Roberts

Quins scorers: Tries: Schneider (2), Wallace, Camacho, Williams, Hurst
Conversions: Baines (5) Penalties: Baines (2)