Bath United 26-24 Harlequins A
By AlanQuin
April 6 2010
This was a match that the Harlequins A team could and should have won. Instead they managed to lose it by 26 – 24 as, reduced to 14 men by a yellow card seven minutes before the end, they allowed Bath to score two tries in three minutes to level the score and had then to watch as Cuthbert put the difficult conversion kick from the touchline straight through the middle of the goal.
The result left Harlequins requiring a win from their final match against Wasps to ensure participation in the Final on May 3.
This was an entertaining match with both sides trying to play flowing rugby. Quins were first on the scoreboard with offences at the breakdown producing two penalties kicked by Rory Clegg in the first four minutes. A few minutes later Cuthbert had a similar opportunity to reduce the lead but missed. Then, despite Quins obvious superiority in the scrum, Bath manufactured an excellent break down the right wing and, when stopped, were able to retain possession and move the ball wide left where a two man overlap saw Ovens cross in the corner for a try which Cuthbert converted to put Bath into the lead 7 – 6.
Quins were working hard to mount attacks. A fine break from Dickson and York took play deep into the Bath twenty-two but a final pass from Clegg, intended for Drauinui, left the winger no chance and bounced into touch. Quins continued to attack and a penalty in front of the posts was kicked to touch and the catch and drive that followed crossed the Bath line but there was no score as the ball was held up. A series of scrums and penalties followed and despite Quins’ attempts to push Bath back across their try-line, it was the home side that managed to clear the danger as Quins lost control of the ball.
Clegg missed with a penalty attempt from 35 metres but as the half drew to a close he was successful with another kick from fully three metres inside his own half to give Quins a lead 7 – 9 at half-time. Just before half time, too, a yellow card for Mercer, the Bath flanker reduced Bath to 14 men. Despite the reduction it was Bath that struck first in the second half as the ball was moved rapidly infield from an attacking lineout and a gap opened up for Crane to dart through from close range for a simple try which Cuthbert converted.
But Quins came back almost immediately as a penalty allowed them good field position and the attack which followed ended with Chisholm scoring in the corner. Clegg’s conversion attempt from the touchline failed and as the match moved into the last quarter the scores were level at 14 – 14
Another simple penalty kick in front of the posts was declined as Quins called for a scrum. Their dominance at the set piece had been massive throughout the match with Marler, in particular, causing Bath great problems. Bath again offended at the scrum and were penalised for not binding, this time the referee awarding a penalty try which Clegg duly converted.
Quins continued to exert pressure and were camped on the Bath line for long periods of time but without success. With ten minutes remaining Clegg increased the lead with a drop goal. Then Bath struck, lack of discipline brought a yellow card for Vallejos as he went offside at a ruck close to the Quins’ try line. Bath redoubled their efforts and made the one man advantage tell as first Ovens and then Cheesman crossed for tries in injury time and Cuthbert’s conversion snatched the victory with the last kick of the match.
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Everyone seems to be remarking how well Marler played, here's hoping he has a very long career ahead at Quins
Northern Conference Pos Team Pld W D L F A TF TA TB LB Pts 1 (1) Leeds Carnegie 10 7 1 2 276 200 40 27 6 0 36 2 (2) Northampton Wanderers 10 8 0 2 256 173 36 23 3 0 35 3 (3) Leicester Tigers 8 5 0 3 245 209 35 29 6 1 27 4 (4) Sale Sharks 9 3 0 6 187 230 25 32 3 2 17 5 (6) Newcastle Falcons 9 2 0 7 171 296 21 40 1 2 11 6 (5) Worcester 8 1 1 6 162 189 18 24 1 3 10 Fixtures 12th Apr Leicester Tigers v Worcester Welford Road Mon 19th Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers Heywood Road Leeds & Northampton are done and Leicester need 2 wins and 2 bp or 2 wins and 1 bp and to improve their pts diff by 40, could be close. Southern Conference Pos Team Pld W D L F A TF TA TB LB Pts 1 (1) Harlequins 9 7 0 2 244 126 31 14 5 2 35 2 (2) Saracens 8 6 0 2 178 94 24 8 2 1 27 3 (3) London Wasps 9 5 0 4 198 176 25 18 1 1 22 4 (4) Bath United 8 4 0 4 192 189 23 23 4 2 22 5 (5) London Irish 8 2 0 6 180 209 23 26 3 2 13 6 (6) Gloucester United 8 1 0 7 112 310 11 48 1 1 6
Fixtures 12th Apr Gloucester United v Saracens Hartpury 19th Apr Saracens v London Irish Woolam 19th Apr Harlequins v London Wasps Stoop
As Sarries play the bottom 2 in our group a win would be good in our last game, unless of Gloucester can beat 'em next monday.
For me I would luv to play Leeds, hoping we do get there of course, for geographical reasons of course! Having said that it was fun to got to Welford Road and wind up the locals by sitting in season ticket holders seats last time!
I believe that if Prof is right Sarries get 5 league points and 20 match points (four tries). Which would nett the table at this before we play Pests.
Southern Conference Pos Team Pld W D L F A TF TA TB LB Pts 1 (2) Saracens 10 8 0 2 218 94 32 8 4 1 37 2 (1) Harlequins 9 7 0 2 244 126 31 14 5 2 35 3 (3) London Wasps 9 5 0 4 198 176 25 18 1 1 22
leaving pts diff at Saffas +124 and us at +118, so a win would be the only way to be top, a draw (albeit unlikely anyway) would not suffice.