A League Report: Harlequins 44-13 Gloucester United

The A team got their Aviva A League campaign back to winning ways with a six try demolition of Gloucester United at The Stoop last night by 44 – 13.

A penalty against the visitors for an off the ball incident allowed Clegg to open the scoring.  A series of penalties followed and Quins began to attack at pace.  However, both grass and ball were slippery from the light persistent drizzle and attacks foundered from unforced errors on both sides. By the fourteenth minute there had been seven penalties awarded when the last offered the Gloucester fly-half a simple three points to level the score. But almost immediately Clegg restored the lead with another penalty.

From a lineout on the visitors’ ten-metre line a fine break by Kyle Sinckler was halted just a metre or two from the line and when the ball was recycled lock George Merrick crashed over by the posts for the first try duly converted by Clegg to make the score 13 – 3.

A penalty allowed the visitors to find a good touch in the Quins’ twenty-two and thereafter there followed a period of intense pressure on the Quins’ try line as successive penalties were used to produce a series of catch and drives.  The defence was hard pressed to prevent the score as on at least one occasion Gloucester were held up over the line.  Relief came when a good tackle produced a turnover and clearance.

Quins were immediately back on attack and, as the ball came left, a delicate pop pass from Mantella put Danny Care in for a try. Clegg failed with the conversion.  Almost immediately, after thirty minutes which showed him back to his usual busy performance, Care was replaced by Bolt.  The score was 18 – 3 but despite further Quins’ attacks from two fine breaks from Urdapilleta, there was no further score before the interval.

Half-time saw replacements as Jordan Burns replaced Rory Clegg and took up position on the wing with Williams at full-back and Urdapilleta at fly half. A penalty allowed Gloucester to take a further three points. Attempts by Quins to attack were frustrated by unforced errors and the whistle heralding penalties.  As the third quarter was drawing to a close a concerted attack saw Tom Williams cross in the corner for the first of two tries. Urdapilleta added the conversion.

Then only a few minutes later a fine break by Tom Casson found Tom Williams in support for the latter’s second try.  The conversion took the score to 32 – 6 and ensured a try bonus point.  A fine breakaway by one of the Gloucester replacements, Robinson, produced a fine try duly converted but was scant consolation.

Within a minute the ball spurted out of a maul, was moved wide and kicked through for Burns to win the race and touch down.  The conversion attempt from the touchline failed. Quins were not yet finished as they set up another attack that developed from a penalty kicked to touch. Forward  pressure told and Merrick crashed over for his second try. Urdapilleta was successful with the conversion.

[Note: Tony Diprose’s post match interview is on video on the Harlequins website]

HARLEQUINS A

15. Benjamin Urdapilletta 14. Tom Williams 13. Matt Hopper 12. Tom Casson 11. Miles Mantella 10. Rory Clegg 9. Danny Care 1. Nick Mayhew 2. Rob Buchanan 3. Kyle Sinckler 4. George Merrick 5. Tomas Vallejos 6. Luke Wallace 7. Will Skinner (C) 8. Joe Trayfoot

Replacements: 16. Chris Brooker 17. Tom Bristow 18. 19. Sam Twomey 20. Charlie Matthews 21. Richard Bolt 22. Charlie Walker 23. Jordan Burns