Harlequins A 24-14 Bath United
By AlanQuin
December 7 2010
Harlequins A Team returned to the top of the Southern Conference table in the Aviva A League with an error strewn 24 – 14 win over Bath United at The Stoop last night. The win takes them two points clear of London Irish, both having played six matches. All other matches due last night in the A League were postponed, having fallen victims to the weather.
The visitors were clearly just as anxious as Harlequins to play running, expansive rugby. But ambition on both sides was stifled by good defence and repeated unforced errors as knocks on, forward passes and other handling and discipline errors abounded. A penalty in the ninth minute allowed Clegg to open the scoring and give Quins a lead which they never relinquished.
Trying hard to attack, it was almost the end of the first quarter before Quins pressure saw their forwards camped on the Bath line and they eventually drove Rob Buchanan over for the first try which Clegg converted to extend the lead to 10 – 0.
There were some good things among the dross. A good long miss pass put Sam Smith on a fine run into Bath territory with Urdapilleta in support but the defence held firm and ultimately another knock on ended the attack. A penalty gave Bath a kick at the posts but the kicked slewed wide. Then with Bath attempting to attack they moved the ball wide on the left for their winger, Jacques Boussuge, to kick through and win the chase for the touchdown try. The successful conversion made the score 10 – 7 after twenty-five minutes.
A penalty which would have given Quins a good attacking position was kicked dead by Clegg as he aimed for the corner. From the scrum which followed Quins were able to mount another attack and, exerting great pressure on the Bath line, created a gap for Rory Clegg to dart through and score by the posts. With Clegg’s successful conversion the first half came to an end.
The second half was even more error strewn than the first half. There was much midfield collision rugby with neither side able to create scoring opportunities. A series of penalties allowed Bath to set up an attacking lineout deep in Quins’ twenty-two and eventually their catch and drive was able to force their forwards over the Quins’ line for the try. The conversion narrowed Quins’ lead to only three points with only ten minutes remaining.
Quins were sufficiently streetwise to ensure that the remainder of the match was played in Bath territory. A penalty allowed Clegg to find touch in the visitors’ twenty two and a series of penalties for Bath infringements at the lineout as they tried to negate the catch and drive kept them pinned there. Eventually though the visitors were overcome as time ran out and with the very last thrust of the match Charlie Matthews was driven over for Quins third try. Clegg’s successful conversion was the last kick of the match.
There were other positives too as Matt Cairns returned from injury and Fa’asavalu was putting himself about with total disregard for his own safety. The backs were sharp in attack and only good defence and occasional handling lapses prevented a higher score, although that was true of both teams.
The nest match is next Monday at The Stoop against Saracens Storm.
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Fa’asavalu was my "man of the match" - consistently causing the Bath line big problems.
A word too for Matthews - he was pretty involved right from the start and is filling out his 6'7 frame nicely, compared to the skinny kid from a year or two ago.