FINAL LOSS IN A LEAGUE: Exeter 29 - 9 Quins
By Alanquin
May 1 2012
Exeter Braves easily disposed of Harlequins A Team in the final of the Aviva Premiership A League at Sandy Park by 29 – 9 scoring three tries to nil in an encounter where the determined physicality of the home side, aided by the conditions, gradually but inexorably exerted the necessary control to ensure victory.
On a pitch which had already taken a massive amount of rain, the wind gusted wildly and then the rain began to fall steadily again. Handling became a problem and the frequency with which the ball was lost in the tackle increased dramatically. Quins had slightly the better of the lineout, but were outdone at the breakdown and ruck. The scrum was a lottery.
With two defences determined that no one should pass, the early exchanges yielded little other than penalty kicks at goal. Dorrian, the Braves’ kicker, was successful with his three attempts and Clegg kicked three out of four but missed with an over optimistic attempt from his own half. As the first half-hour passed the scores were level at 9 – 9 and there was little evidence that either side would penetrate the others’ defences. Then an Exeter grubber kick through towards the Harlequins’ try-line was the start of the decline in fortune for the visitors. In the hope that the ball would cross the line and allow him to touch down for a drop out, Dickson appeared to wait too long as the ball moved unpredictably and the Exeter winger, Arnott, dived in to touch down first and score an improbable try. The conversion was missed but the score was now 14 – 9 in favour of Exeter, and despite Quins’ efforts, it remained so until the interval.
A penalty after nine minutes increased the Exeter lead and as the game moved into the final quarter Clegg missed with a penalty kick at goal. The rain was heavier and the pitch and ball both sodden. Both sides began to bring on substitutes. Quins’ cause did not seem to be helped and Exeter took the chance to turn the screw. A lineout in the Harlequins’ twenty-two turned into a powerful rolling maul trundling inexorably over the line for Braves’ skipper, Slade, to score. The conversion was missed but there was no way back for Quins.
In the fifteen minutes remaining Quins tried hard to produce a score, but in vain. A fine run by Lindsay-Hague was stopped the Exeter twenty-two. Then at a ruck, as Quins tried to attack, a turnover and a long kick through, by way of clearance, ended in another ruck and a knock on. With time almost up Exeter had an attacking scrum five metres from the Harlequins’ line. The total demolition of the Quins’ scrum brought Exeter an immediate penalty try and conversion and the final victory.
Braves: L Arscott (H Slade 69); J Arnott (C Crane 79), N Sestaret, S Hill, M Foster; M Dorrian, J Poluleuligaga (K Barrett 60); C Budgen (L Cowan-Dickie 63), S Alcott (J Vickers 76), J Andress (L Fairbrother 79); C Bentley (A Muldowney 63), C Slade (capt, H Stupple 76); D Ewers, B White, J Phillips.
Harlequins: R Chisholm (O Lindsay-Hague 69); S Stegmann, M Hopper, T Casson (B Urdapilleta 64), C Walker; R Clegg, K Dickson (R Bolt 72); M Lambert (D Marfo 52), A Croall (T Standfield 72), W Collier (K Sinckler 66); S Twomey (G Merrick 63), P Browne L Wallace, W Skinner (capt), C York (J Trayfoot 52).
Referee: A Small. Attendance: 2,368
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