LV= CUP WIN BRINGS SECOND TROPHY: Sale 14 - 32 Harlequins
By Alanquin
March 18 2013
With yet another demonstration of exciting, skillful and determined running rugby that is becoming known as the Harlequin brand of play, the young second string Harlequins team won the LV= Anglo-Welsh Cup defeating an almost full strength Sale Sharks by 32 – 14 in the final at Worcester.
This was a magnificent performance, continuing on from last week’s semi-final almost seamlessly despite the change of opponents and venue. They took the lead from a penalty in the fourth minute, duly kicked by Ben Botica, and never again lost that lead. When in possession of the ball, they kept it in their hands moving it with skill and rapidity and attack was the order of the day.
In the eighth minute another penalty, wide on the half-way line, was kicked deep to touch in the Sale twenty-two for the lineout that formed the springboard for another Quins’ attack. When the ball was released from the maul it was swept rapidly right from Dickson to Smith to Tom Williams for the first try. The conversion attempt failed and0 Quins led 8 – 0, although soon after a Sale penalty saw Cipriani reduce the arrears .
Despite Quins having the bulk of possession in the first quarter, Sale began to stir themselves and could appear to be dangerous and determined in attacks that too often ended in the ball being lost in a tackle or poor pass just as a point scoring chance presented. From one such episode a counter-attack by way of a fine kick chase forced the Sale defended to carry the ball across his own try line and concede a five metre scrum. With quick ball, Tom Guest broke from the base of the scrum, beat two defenders and touched down for the second try. Botica added the extras and Harlequins led 15 – 3 after twenty-five minutes.
Both Cipriani and Botica kicked successful penalties in the time remaining before the interval when the score was 18 - 6 in favour of Harlequins.
Almost immediately from the restart another penalty reduced the arrears. But Quins’ reply was inevitable. They attacked, placing great pressure on the Sale defence. A wild pass from Cipriani was almost intercepted and the subsequent clearance left Quins with a lineout in their opponents’ twenty-two. With quick ball from the lineout Quins attacked again and Tom Casson carved through a gap in the Sale defensive line for Quins’ third try. Botica added the conversion, increasing the lead to 25 – 9 five minutes into the second half.
Then pressure from another attack saw the Quins forwards cross the Sale line but with the decision referred to the television match official the ball was ruled held up. With a five metre scrum imminent Sale sent on the cavalry, with five simultaneous substitutions bringing internationals Mark Cueto and Dwayne Peel among others. From the scrum, Botica fashioned a crossfield kick for Williams but the tip of a defender’s finger carried the ball across the line and he touched down to concede another five metre scrum. This time Guest was held up over the line and yet another five metre scrum was the platform for another attack.
Inevitably another try resulted as Quins kept up the attack until eventually Luke Wallace dived across for the score. With Botica’s successful conversion the score was 32 – 9 with twenty-five minutes remaining.
It was some consolation, perhaps, for Sale and their vocal supporters that they fashioned a try through Leota. Thereafter, though they tried with determination to inflict further damage to the Quins’ lead, the Harlequins defence did an excellent job and the time ran out without further incident.
An ebullient Conor O’Shea told the press "I'm just over the moon for the group. It is a long way into the season and we face a massive next nine weeks but, for those players, that is something that is a reminder to everyone coming back [from England duty] in the next couple of weeks.
"For the club, not only is it a major trophy, [but] when you look at four guys in the tight five who are 21 and under, that is something for them to store away in their locker for years to come and they are the cornerstone of what this club will be about for a decade or more," added O'Shea. "They have won a national trophy and we said before the game not to take anything for granted because you never know when you will get there. We have been very fortunate to be in a number of finals in the last few years and to have come away with a trophy.
"There is a good vibe in the dressing room and a lot of very proud parents of young men but it sets us up to really attack what will be ups and down in the coming weeks. We know that. It is just so unbelievably exciting for this group. Now everyone will have to play their part. We have a lot of quality to come in."
Sale MacLeod, Brady (Cueto, 50), Leota, Tuitupou, Ingall (Amesbury, 67), Cipriani, Fowles (Peel, 50), Dickinson (Harrison, 55), Taylor (Croall, 75), Buckley (Thomas, 50), McKenzie (Ostrikov, 50), Holmes, Gaskell, Seymour (Braid, 50), Powell.
Harlequins Chisholm, Williams (Walker, 59), Lowe, Casson (Clegg, 64), Smith, Botica, Dickson (Burns, 76), Lambert (Marfo, 71), Buchanan (Ward, 55), Collier (Johnston, 50), Twomey (Browne, 68), Matthews, Fa'asavalu (Trayfoot, 53), Wallace, Guest.
Referee Greg Garner (RFU). Attendance 8,297.
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