Uxbridge 20-25 Harlequin Amateurs
By Charlie Allen
February 5 2008
Saturday 5th January 2008, Herts/Middlesex League 2. An exciting and important match took place away to Uxbridge. Harlequins showed a lack of discipline at times and Uxbridge used the resulting penalties to gain field position for their first try. From a lineout just 5 metres out from the Harlequins line Uxbridge set up a rolling maul to score the try.
Harlequinssquandered a couple of overlap situations that should have led to tries. A morecostly mistake from Uxbridge, at the death of the first half, gave Harlequins amuch needed lifeline. The Uxbridge pack struggled to hold the shove of theopposition pack at a 5 metre scrum; a mix up and dropped ball resulting in a Harlequinstry as scrum half Russell Wigginton fell on the ball before Uxbridge couldgather and clear it.
Early in thesecond half Uxbridge converted a penalty but Harlequins were far from beatenand replied in kind when given a penalty opportunity of their own. With 20minutes to go Harlequins scored their second try to take the lead. Aftersustained pressure Harlequins fly-half James Loizos topped a good half with atry to make it 13 - 15.
Uxbridgelooked tired in the last 20 but fortune but, following consistent offending anda professional foul, the referee award a yellow card to Harlequins winger NickMarren. With the one man advantage Uxbridge gave their backs some clean balland exposed a lack of pace in the centres, some quick hands and neat footworkallowing a try from over 40 meters out.
In the last 10minutes the referee gave Harlequins a man advantage, showing a yellow cardagainst Uxbridge. Harlequins took full advantage and some simple hands throughthe backs saw them cross the line through full-back Chris Salter making it 20 –22. To add some undeserved gloss on the score Harlequins slotted a penalty onthe final whistle to make it 20 – 25.
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