Wasps 29-25 Harlequins
By HarleyQuin
March 10 2008
There never was such a thing as a friendly game between these long time rivals, but with Heineken Cup and Playoff places at stake things became intense in the extreme. Sadly two huge unforced errors, by the Quins stand-offs, proved the turning points in a thrilling game at Adams Park.
It was like a heavyweight championship bout. Buoyed on by a capacity crowd of 10,000, the home team landed all the first punches. Quins were penned back in their own half for all but one minute of the first quarter of the game.
Hooker Ibanez barrelled over with only four minutes gone, after many phases of play. Man of the Match Dave Walder added the first two of his nineteen-point haul in a perfect kicking display. It looked decidedly dodgy for the visitors. They were forced to defend with the bravery than has become a trademark under Dean Richards. Tosh Masson, who seems to improve with every game, particularly caught the eye with a couple of bone crunching tackles, which announced the team’s intention to dig in and fight.
The lone breakout saw Adrian Jarvis reduce the arrears with a penalty. Having turned down the chance of two difficult penalty kicks at goal and gone for the corner, it took Wasps until 26 minutes to score again when another tough penalty kick was slotted over. It signalled that Quins robust defence had forced a change in attitude from the home team.
Better news was to follow two minutes later. It looked as if van Gisbergen had covered AJ’s cross field kick, following a Tom Williams led attack, but he fumbled and the ball popped up to Mike Brown who fed Luscombe to score in the corner. AJ added the extras and, amazingly, Quins were level after half an hour.
Although Walder was able to restore the lead for the Pests with another penalty, Quins seemed to be cruising towards half time, playing against the breeze, when disaster struck. Wasps were pinged on the half way line. Jarvis contrived to kick the ball through the back of the Wasps dead ball area for a scrum back. (It was a schoolboy error - that he almost repeated in the second half with a 22 dropout!)
At said scrum, Wasps were awarded a penalty and Walder demonstrated how to kick for the corner. A couple of rumbles later, they launched a back move and Waldouck scored close to the posts.
Once again Wasps, like all good teams, sensed their moment had come and attacked again, looking for the killer score. As it turned out, Walder was able to add a drop goal as the half ended leaving Quins down by 23-10 at the half.
As Quins trooped off the field, you felt that they had to score next. They did, but Jarvis and Walder traded penalties, leaving the Insects ahead by 13 points.
Enter Ugo Monye. With the game just under an hour old he recovered a clearance on his own 40 metre line, brushed off van Gisbergen and went on a swerving, surging run until there was only Lewsey between the winger and the try line. Ugo jinked to his right and then put on the afterburners to win a 22 metre footrace to the corner. If you missed it, don’t worry. It will be on TV this week and has to be a contender for try of the month.
It was at this point that Wasps introduced the “Distraction”. Loud cheers from the home crowd greeted the arrival of the black-eyed (no idea how!) Danny Cipriani, who went to fullback. The Quins fans, by comparison, were decidedly Danny “Cipri-anti”, jeering the talented, but tabloid friendly youngster, at every possible occasion. (If you want to know what I mean, try googling his name!) In truth his introduction was a non event, despite having more photographers present than at a Hollywood Premier.
With 10 minutes to go Walder struck for the last time, splitting the uprights to establish a 29-18 lead. Now it was Quins turn to rise up. Tom Guest finished off a fine forward surge after a tap penalty by Danny Care. It left an easy conversion for Malone, who had replaced AJ after 55 minutes.
They then went in search of a try that would have sealed a memorable comeback – and a five point haul. Despite the impetus of several penalties by a desperate Wasps defence, it all came to nothing when, with only a few seconds remaining Malone lofted a cross field kick which was marked by Lewsey. All that was required was for him to find touch and end the game. It was a baffling decision to take. If nothing was on then the ball should have been taken back into contact and recycled.
It was a frustrating end to a gutsy fight back.
Afterwards, Deano praised the character of the side. “Not many sides come to Wasps and go away disappointed – for all the right reasons”, he claimed. He also said that AJ’s decision to move at the end of the season will not play any part in his selection criteria, but did accept that there will have to be a new 10 brought in, with Seb Jewel deemed probably not ready to step up at this moment in time.
Wasps
15. Lewsey, 14. van Gisbergen (Cipriani 60 mins), 13. Waldouck, 12 Flutey (Waters 60 mins), 11. Doherty, 10. Walder, 9. McMillan, 1. Payne, 2. Ibanez (Ward 58 mins), 3. French, 4. Skivington, 5. Palmer, 6. Hart (Leo 72 mins), 7. Worsley (Webber 70 mins), 8. Dallaglio (Capt.)
Replacements: 16. Ward (Ibanez 58 mins), 17. Adams, 18. Leo (Hart 72 mins), 19. Webber (Worsley 70 mins), 20. Amor, 21. Cipriani (van Gisbergen 60 mins), Waters (Flutey 60 mins)
Harlequins
15. Brown, 14. Williams (Barry 33 mins), 13. Luscombe, 12. Masson, 11 Monye, 10 Jarvis (Malone 55 mins), 9 Care, 1. Jones, 2. Fuga (Brooker 71 mins), 3. Ross, 4. Percival, 5. Spanghero (Robson 55 mins), 6. Robshaw, 7. Skinner (Capt.), 8. Guest
Replacements: 16. Brooker (Fuga 71 mins), 17. Brooks, 18. Robson (Spanghero 55 mins), 19. Volley, 20. Gomarsall, 21. Malone (Jarvis 55 mins), 22. Barry (Williams 33 mins)
- did Deano really say we need another No 10 ??
- answer on the proverbial postage stamp please!
on on quins
There are some aspects to the ground no doubt because it's a footy stadium that bear mention. The in-goal area has to one of the smallest in top flight rugby and the space between touch and hoardings is tiny too. Not to forget the shortest posts I've ever seen which makes life more difficult for the TJ's when deciding on kicks.
