Bath 24-13 Harlequins
By AlanQuin
March 29 2010
Two tries by Bath in four minutes early in the second half took this game away from Quins as Bath cruised to a 24 – 13 victory. Quins had their chances and failed to take them, on more than one occasion butchering chances with elementary handling errors or penalty infringements.
Both sides started brightly enough and obviously determined on winning. But almost immediately Quins were penalised at the scrum first conceding a free kick and then, when Bath opted for another scrum, a full penalty that Barkley kicked to give Bath the lead after only three minutes.
Bath were playing with pace and fine handling and the penalty count rose against Quins at lineouts and at the breakdown and with Bath having the bulk of the possession Quins were forced onto the defensive for long periods. Barkley missed another score from a simple kick in front of the posts after twenty minutes but spurred on by that the home side attacked strongly.
Although that attack was held out and the ball cleared, it remained in play. Bath ran the ball back and was held on the Quins line. But such pressure was bound to tell in the end and the ball came left from the second ruck on the line and Barkley to dive over from close range for a try. He added the conversion increasing the lead to 10 – 0. Barkley missed another penalty attempt with eight minutes of the half remaining.
Quins then produced their most promising attack and with Strettle about to receive what would undoubtedly have been the scoring pass a high and early tackle from Claassens, well before the ball had reached the winger, killed the move. A yellow card and a penalty followed, although perhaps a penalty try might have been awarded.
Evans opened Quins account with three points.
A couple of minutes later another penalty allowed Evans to kick superbly for the corner and gain an attacking lineout on the five-metre line. The result was another penalty as Bath infringed offside in the face of a strong Quins attack and with the final kick of the half, Evans’ second successful kick made the score 10 – 6. at the break.
An early chance of more points went begging as Nick Evans just missed with a penalty kick. Quins were fortunate to see a try disallowed to Bath when Banahan was denied the score for an infringement as he and Mike Brown both chased for the touchdown of a ball chipped through to the in gaol area.
Then followed the two tries that took the game away. First a Bath attack, fast running and passing broke through a fragile defence and a suspiciously final forward pass put Duncan Bell in at the corner to score. Barkley added the conversion.. Then another penalty to Bath saw them find touch on the left on Quins’ twenty-two. From the lineout the ball was moved fluently and rapidly to the right where Maddock was unchallenged as he crossed for a try. Barkley again added the conversion.
Harlequins’ efforts, however, were largely in vain as they continued to be forced onto the defensive by Bath’s fluent running rugby. A fine last ditch try-saving tackle by Tom Williams stopped the home team from scoring a try bonus point. What appeared to be a trip prevented David Strettle from reaching the Bath try-line. Ugo Monye, who had taken a knock, took a quick tap penalty and appeared to be out-running his chasers when, inexplicably, he kicked the ball towards the wing for Strettle, who was not able to reach it before being shoulder charged into touch by Banahan. That offence, too, was ignored by the officials. Finally a break started by Chris York and carried on by Care saw Tom Williams score under the posts and Evans converted.
Efforts by Quins to find another score for a losing bonus failed and the final whistle heralded another loss for Quins. As Conor O’Shea said afterwards, the better team on the day won!
Bath: N Abendanon (N Little 77min); J Maddock, S Hape, O Barkley, M Banahan (J Cuthbert 69min); B James, M Claassens (capt); D Flatman (D Barnes 17min), L Mears (P Dixon 65min), D Bell (A Jarvis 71min), S Hooper, P Short (D Grewcock 62min), A Beattie (J Fa’amatuainu 68min), J Salvi, L Watson.
Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle, G Lowe (T Williams 54min), J Turner-Hall, U Monye (R Clegg 74min); N Evans, D Care; C Jones (A Croall 72min), T Fuga (C Brooker 51min), J Andress (J Johnston 65min), J Percival, G Robson, C Robshaw, W Skinner (capt), T Guest (C York 41min).
Referee: M Fox (RFU) Attendance: 11,700
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"Evans opened Quins account with three points"
only to end the match in defeat
Quote:...the better team on the day won
Looked that way to me too.
Thanks AlanQuin