London Wasps A 13-46 Harlequins A

An error strewn performance from both teams in an ultimately entertaining game saw Harlequins A emerge as victors by 13 – 46 having run in six tries against Wasps A at Henley on Thames.  The result returns Quins to second place in the table, two points behind London Irish but with a game in hand.

For most of the first half scoring was restricted to a single penalty from Clegg, although he missed with two other attempts.  After thirty-five minutes of the half a similar score for Wasps was kicked by Elliot Daly to level the scores.  Not that both teams had not been trying.  They had been trying too hard, sacrificing accuracy for speed with promising attacks breaking down from unforced errors, poor passes and poor handling. The Quins backs ran hard and intelligently with Chisholm, Urdapilleta and Lindsay-Hague particularly prominent while Charlie Walker, a 17 year old Charlie Amesbury lookalike, worked tirelessly all over the field.

Then, almost unexpectedly, Mark Lambert broke through the defence in midfield and having galloped thirty metres unchallenged, was able to pass to Charlie Matthews for the latter to touch down between the posts.  Clegg added the simple conversion.  There was still time for Daly to reduce Wasps’ arrears before the half-time whistle sounded with the score at 6 – 10.

An early penalty for Quins allowed Clegg to increase Quins’ lead and a yellow card for a Wasps’ forward reduced them to fourteen men.  It was as soon as Wasps were restored to full strength that Quins struck again with another rapid attack down their right, when although halted Dave Moore sliced diagonally through the traffic to score by the posts. Clegg converted and Quins led 6 – 20.

As the game entered its final quarter Urdapilleta picked up a loose ball and beat two defenders to score the next try which Clegg also converted. The lead was now unassailable and the bonus point try was not long in coming.  Another yellow card for a Wasps’ forward was bound to create gaps in the defence. A fine backs move with smooth handling by Walker, Urdapilleta and Lindsay-Hague ended with the latter scoring.  With the successful conversion the lead was 6 – 34 with ten minutes remaining.

Finally, as the clock moved into injury time, Wasps broke through the Quins’ defence and scored a consolation try to reduce the arrears.  An immediate counter-attack brought an immediate reply as a sweeping move along the back line put substitute winger Gerrard Mullen in at the corner.  Clegg’s conversion attempt hit the post and rebounded.

With the final whistle still not sounded, Quins attacked again and finally Charlie Walker had his entirely justified reward as he escaped the defence to score the try he had threatened several times earlier in the match.  Clegg’s successful conversion was the final kick of the match.