A League SF Victory Northampton Wanderers 17 - 20 Harlequins

Harlequins produced a determined victory by 17 – 20 over Northampton Wanderers in the A League semi-final at Franklins Gardens on Monday evening. Quins will travel to Sandy Park next Monday (30th April) for the Final against Exeter Braves who prevailed against Leicester Tigers in the other semi-final

A cold and miserably wet evening tempted only a couple of hundred spectators to brave the elements. They were rewarded by a spirited performance from two sides who tried hard to run the ball and play at pace and defended ferociously.  In the event, it was the dominance of the Harlequins pack at the scrum that produced the result as a penalty try from a five metre scrum, as the game moved into the final quarter, allowed Harlequins to regain the lead and hold it until the final whistle

The determination of the home team was obvious from the start. A penalty gave them field position in the Harlequins’ half and only five minutes had elapsed when Russian international Artemyev broke through the defence cutting a diagonal, angled line to touch down by the posts.  Tonks duly converted to give the Wanderers a seven point lead. Almost immediately, as Quins attacked, a penalty allowed Clegg to reduce the arrears.

Northampton attempted to respond and attacked with rapid passing and an injection of pace.  Unfortunately for their cause, a floated miss pass was intercepted by Charlie Walker on the half-way line and he easily outpaced the chasers to score under the posts. Clegg added the extras and Harlequins led 7 - 10 after ten minutes. Four minutes later a penalty allowed Tonks to level the scores.  He had a further opportunity to score later in the half but his kick hit the post and rebounded to be cleared.  

As the half drifted to its close, a quick tap penalty inside the Quins’ twenty-two  failed to produce the desired try as the ball was knocked on, Quins turned the ball over at the subsequent scrum and danger was averted while Northampton must have been left rueing the extravagance of declining an easy three points.  The interval found the teams level at 10 -10.

The Wanderers started the second half with determination and pace. Another penalty attempt from Tonks saw him hit the post for the second time in the match.  Again the ball was cleared by Quins from the rebound.  But determined Northampton attacks put great pressure on the committed defence from Quins and eventually Armstrong was put through a gap for a second Northampton try.  Tonks duly converted.

But now the Harlequins pack began to exert control at the scrum. A penalty at a scrum on the Northampton twenty-two allowed Clegg to narrow the home side’s lead.  Another penalty was kicked to touch in the Northampton twenty-two.  The line-out was lost when Harlequins knocked on, but a penalty at the scrum gave Clegg a further opportunity for points, but the ball slid outside the posts.

Quins resumed their attacks and a knock on gave them an attacking scrum five metres from the line.  As the pressure from the Quins’ pack propelled the home pack rapidly backwards in total disorder, referee Martin Fox went immediately under the posts to award a penalty try.  Clegg added the simple conversion. Harlequins led 17 – 20 with approximately seventeen minutes remaining.  Quins kept the pressure on their opponents and kept them penned into their own half.  A series of penalties allowed Clegg further kicks at goal.  One missed to the left and one was just short and under the bar.  The clock was wound down skilfully until the final whistle. Harlequins were in the A League final yet again.

NORTHAMPTON WANDERERS

15 Vasily Artemyev, 14 Scott Armstrong, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 Tom May. 11 Tom Collins,10 Greg Tonks, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Alex Waller,       2 Mike Haywood, 3 Paul Doran Jones, 4 Tom Hicks, 5 Darrell Dyer, 6 Ben Nutley, 7 Teimana Harrison, 8 Mark Hopley .

Replacements: 16 Ross Mcmillan, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Alex Woolford,      20 James Ingle, 21 Ryan Glynn, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 Alex Day.

HARLEQUINS

15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Seb Stegmann, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Charlie Walker,10 Rory Clegg, 9 Karl Dickson, 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Aston Croall, 3 Will Collier,4 Sam Twomey, 5 Peter Browne, 6 Joe Trayfoot, 7 Luke Wallace, 8 Chris York

Replacements: 16 Tom Standfield, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 Jack Clifford, 21 Richard Bolt, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague

 Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)