A League: London Irish A 6-33 Harlequins A

Harlequins returned to the top of the Southern Conference of the Aviva A League with a five try, bonus point win over London Irish A 6- 33 at Sunbury.

The weather conditions were frankly nasty.  A fierce, cold wind was gusting down the pitch and the rain was blown horizontal through the lights. Underfoot the pitch was heavy and the ball slippery and difficult to handle. Starting with the wind at their backs gave the home side an undoubted early advantage.

Both sides were trying to play running rugby despite the conditions and two penalties in the first ten minutes as the Exiles pressed into the Quins’ twenty-two allowed Ryan Lamb to open a 6 – 0 lead. But almost immediately, a good catch and drive from an attacking lineout allowed Quins to set up a series of rucks on the Irish line and Lewis Stevenson drove across for a try which Clegg converted putting Quins into a lead which was never challenged.

With the aid of the wind Lamb was finding good territory but Irish lacked penetration and the Harlequins’ defence held firm.  Clegg, too, was kicking well and he found a fine touch and forced a five metre lineout.  A knock on gave Quins a good attacking scrum and after a second scrum Peter Brown crossed for the second try.  Clegg added the extras and at half-time Quins led 6 – 14.

 The second half began to follow a similar pattern to the first half.  Irish continued to be unable to penetrate the defensive line and after three or four forwards had thrown themselves at the Quins’ defence, Lamb tried to kick for territory.  But now he did not have the help of the wind.  Gradually Quins were playing the game in the Irish half.  Then after a lineout, Karl Dickson made an excellent break through the defence and was able to put York in fir a try under the posts.  Clegg added the extras. After fifteen minutes of the second half the lead had extended to 6 – 21.

For the next twenty minutes the pattern continued in ever worsening weather.  Unforced errors abounded on both sides as handling became even more difficult than earlier.  Then an unfortunate injury to Ross Chisholm, who slipped and knocked himself out trying to take a poor pass on the wing, caused a delay of some ten minutes while he was treated and stretchered off. 

With time running out and the end blessedly in sight, a catch and drive from a lineout saw Charlie Matthews cross fir a bonus point try.  Clegg’s kick was driven wide by the wind. But that was not yet the end. From the restart Quins attacked and Miles Mantella, at pace, deftly chipped over the defence, ran through, gathered and scored under the posts.  Clegg’s successful conversion was the final kick of the match.  The final score was 6 – 33.