Exeter United 25-43 Harlequins A
By AlanQuin
October 5 2010
Harlequins A were made to struggle at first against a physical Exeter United side but eventually overcame them and scored six tries in a convincing bonus point win by 25 – 43.
It was most of the first twenty minutes before Quins were able to get reasonable possession of the ball to mount an attack. Until then the home side battered at the hard working Quins’ defence with their assaults punctuated by the referee’s whistle and regular kickable penalties that were efficiently scored from by fly-half Ryan Davis. After Quins resisted a good catch and drive from a lineout that crashed across the Quins’ line but was held up, Davis added his third penalty and increased the Exeter lead to 9 – 0.
Then Quins were able to begin to respond and attack. A fine break by Luke Wallace might have brought a score but there was no one in support and he knocked on in the tackle. Then the backs were able to get moving and a fluent attack with good handling saw Mantella cut inside the final defender to score a try which Clegg converted.
Having begun to get on terms with the power of the Exeter attack, a yellow card for Luke Wallace for an offence at a ruck reduced Quins to fourteen men. A collapsed scrum saw Darryl Marfo stretchered off and Mark Lambert replaced him. Then a penalty on the Exeter twenty-two allowed Clegg to give Quins the lead for the first time in the match.
An immediate similar opportunity for Exeter was surprisingly declined as Davis kicked to touch. Unfortunately for Exeter they knocked on at the lineout and the gamble failed. Exeter resumed their attack and were able to pin Quins into their twenty-two. They were camped on the Quins’ line when the ball was moved away and into the hands of their centre, Matevesi, who cut through at pace for a good try. Davis added the points and a minute later kicked yet another penalty to give Exeter a 19 – 10 lead at half time.
The second half saw the pendulum begin to swing the way of the visitors as an immediate penalty from the kick-off produced a five metre lineout. But when the catch and drive was successfully resisted the ball came out to Clegg whose clever kick through allowed Ollie Lindsay-Hague to run round and score. Clegg added the conversion.
Once again an immediate penalty as Quins went offside allowed Davis to increase the home lead to 22 – 17. Then Quins were able to mount an attack and some clever passing and handing by the backs found Urdapilletta diving over in the left corner. Clegg’s kick just drifted wide but the scores were level.
Quins now began to play with greater fluency and the running and passing game which has so often characterised A team matches was more in evidence. A fine cross kick from Clegg was chased by Wallace and a defender and the officials ruled in favour of Luke Wallace having won the race to the touchdown that also secured the bonus point. Clegg added the conversion from the touchline. Another good penalty kick from Davis reduced the arrears for Exeter to 25 – 29 but that ended their scoring.
Then came the moment that finally, albeit only temporarily, quietened the abusive and unpleasant home supporters in the stand. Their unprintable language was aimed at both the referee and Quins with “cheats” being the only printable epithet. A catch and drive at a lineout became a powerful and irresistible rolling maul which went the full twenty-five metres for Mark Lambert to score. Clegg again added the conversion.
Now Quins were dominating the proceedings and the home supporters began to drift away. The visitors began to cut loose with backs and forwards joining in entertaining and skillful passing and interchanging and finally putting Peter Browne in for as try in the left corner. Clegg’s kick was successful. Exeter attempted one final attack but a knock on ended the pressure and the final whistle followed.
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It certainly sounds like they recovered well to win
Hopefully you'll be back to Sandy Park for the Premiership fixture and have a rather better experience. Of course I will also be hoping for a very different result on the pitch!
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
From where I was standing we were outclassed in the Second Half, both up front and behind, with Rory Clegg especially impressive.
A very entertaining game that was let down a bit by the Ref who, IMO, totally lost control of the scrum.
I'm not sure where this abusive "muppet" was standing/sitting but a lot of supporters were getting frustrated/annoyed/confused (choose any or all) by the ref's scrum decisions and this was probably the cause of the abuse (still not acceptable though).
I don't know why this person wasn't approached and told to calm down, if I had heard it I certainly would have said something. The last think we want is to get a reputation for that sort of behaviour.
Still an enjoyable evenings rugby though, despite the result. Looking forward to welcoming you all to Sandy Park when you visit us next year.
Tony
We were well beaten by your team who showed real class in some of the moves leading up to your try's and it was great to see both Andress and stevenson back at SP.
I look forward to your visit in Feb when hopefully you will recieve a better reception and leave after having a pleasant experience.
sincerest and heartfelt apologies and i know i write for the 99.9% of "other" chiefs fans.
apologies.
I was another chiefs supporter that was at the game & in the main stand...with my young family!
And yes, there was some very unsavory & unpleasant language being shouted !
But I think you would have been more accurate to say..."Then came the moment that finally, albeit only temporarily, quietened a very small minority of very abusive and unpleasant home supporters in the stand".
As I said on the chiefs tribe site when we returned from the game...we were undone by some excellent passing & movement by a better team !
Phil.
PS...hope your player that was stretchered off makes a full recovery !
Be sure to treat every day on this earth as if it were your last...one day you will be right. (Jethro)
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George