Pre-Season: Harlequins 15:14 Connacht

The new season crept in diffidently with a largely second string and Academy team inflicting a narrow defeat upon the, notionally, stronger Connacht by 15 points to 14.

Both sides were clearly not fully match fit although they were enthusiastic and determined to show their skills.  While both sides made only to be expected errors, the visitors’ error count was the more glaring.  Two or three overlaps that might have produced scores were squandered and on two occasions final passes were forward.  Only the boot of their fly half, Miah Nikora, who kicked three penalties to supplement the single try from winger Fionn Carr, kept the visitors in the game.

Quins were intent on attacking, running rugby as well as aggressive defence. Having conceded the first score from a penalty after only six minutes, Quins were immediately on the attack.  New fly half, Rory Clegg, took every opportunity to move the ball wide and almost created a score from Smith who was stopped short of the line by a good tackle.

Then, after 15 minutes, a delicate grubber kick from Clegg into the in-goal area saw George Lowe win the race for the touchdown.  Clegg added the conversion to give Quins a lead of 7 – 3.  An attempted counter from the visitors caught Quins offside and Nikora kicked his second penalty to narrow the gap to a single point.

Shortly after Quins were almost caught napping by a quickly taken penalty.  The defence stood firm, however, and the final pass was adjudged forward allowing Quins to relieve the pressure on their line.   With the Quins forwards having a good day at the set piece, penalties against the Irish began to occur and with five minutes remaining Clegg successfully kicked a penalty to increase the lead.   As time ran out Connacht had two more penalty opportunities but Nikora succeeded only with the first, leaving the score at half time 10 - 9.

For the second half, newly signed scrum half, Karl Dickson, replaced Steve So’oialo, finally returned from injury.   Connacht  were immediately on the attack and when Quins turned over the ball against the run of play they conceded a penalty and progress halted.  Still Quins ran the ball and moved it wide and this time Clegg found a gap in the defence through which he went at speed to score near the post.  His conversion attempt missed but Quins led 15 – 9 after five minutes of the half.

The next twelve minutes were all Connacht in attack.  Only excellent defending under pressure prevented a try and as Quins gained a scrum they were able to relieve the pressure.  Then the visitors wasted a two-man overlap on the left wing.  Finally they forced their way down the left wing with Carr just reaching the line.  The referee awarded the try despite what looked suspiciously like a knock on in the grounding.

Quins, indeed, had one similar effort by Lowe disallowed for that reason. A long-range penalty attempt by Clegg fell short and even concerted pressure for the last five minutes failed to add to the score. 

A pre-season match such as this is not about result but about performance, about combinations, and about how well the things learned or put in place in training are applied.  On the whole the coaches should be satisfied with this start.

Harlequins
15.   Ross Chisholm;  14. Ollie Lindsay-Hague;  13. George Lowe;  12. Tosh Masson;  11.  Sam Smith;    10.  Rory Clegg;   9.  Steve So’oialo;  1. Aston Croall;  2.  Chris Brooker; 3. Mark Lambert;  4. Lewis Stevenson; 5. George Robson;  6 Chris York; 7. Neil McMillan (c)  8. Tom Guest
Replacements 16.  Tani Fuga; 17. Ceri Jones; 18. James Percival;  19. Jono Ross; 20. Karl Dickson; 21 Waisea Luveniyali; 22. Seb Jewell; 23. John Andress; 24. Calum Macrae

Connacht:
Troy Nathan; Brian Tuohy, Niva Ta'auso, Aidan Wynne, Fionn Carr; Miah Nikora, Conor O'Loughlin; Ronan Loughney, Adrian Flavin (capt), Robbie Morris, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Mike McComish.
Replacements: Andrew Browne, Kieran Campbell, Eoin Griffin, Jamie Hagan, Conor Higgins, Dermot Murphy, David Nolan, Ray Ofisa, Tiarnan O'Halloran, Brett Wilkinson.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)