INTO THE AMLIN! Scarlets 20 - 22 Harlequins

  Harlequins salvaged their stuttering European campaign by earning a quarter-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup from an excellent victory over The Scarlets in Llanelli by 20 – 22. Their opponents will be Stade Francais, in Paris. The result also ensured that no Welsh team reached the knock-out stages of either European competition.

In what started as almost perfect conditions under a sunny sky as the teams warmed up soon began to cloud over and soon the rain came. Starting as drizzle and increasing in intensity until it passed leaving conditions that militated against the type of running rugby that was the style both teams chose to play. A flowing counter attack launched from the Scarlets’ twenty-two ran straight through the Harlequin defence for a try that wakened memories of the Scarlets visit to the Stoop. The successful conversion put the home side into a seven point lead after barely ten minutes.

Then a yellow card, for dangerous play at a ruck, removed a Scarlets’ lock and immediately Quins took advantage of their numerical advantage to create and complete a move that ended in a try from Mike Brown. Nick Evans added the extras to level the score. Another Harlequins’ try followed as Ollie Lindsay-Hague started and finished a quick passing attack along the right wing. The successful conversion brought the score to 7 – 14 after twenty-seven minutes.

A penalty allowed Priestland to reduce the Quins’ lead and as time began to run out towards the interval Scarlets were pressing hard in a series of rucks on the Quins’ line. The ball bobbled free over the line and Shingler, now returned from the sin-bin, dived over the ruck to touch down. The try was awarded despite what appeared to have been a Scarlets’ knock-on in the previous phase though the conversion was missed. Scarlets led 15 – 14 at half-time.

Scarlets started the second half with another sweeping counter attack from their own try-line but were denied the try by a poor forward pass with the score at their mercy. But, with only four minutes of the half elapsed, Quins manufactured a try of their own as Karl Dickson crossed from behind a rolling maul from a lineout inside the Scarlets’ twenty-two. The conversion attempt from the touchline failed but Quins led 15 – 19.

Five minutes later Scott Williams scored for the Welsh side and gave them the slender lead of a single point. They sought to increase their advantage by two long range penalties from inside their own half, both kicked well wide of the posts. Increasingly Quins were dominating possession and territory and playing the game well away from their own twenty-two.

With Nick Evans limping and the narrowest of margins in the score Botica was sent on for Monye with fifteen minutes remaining. With Quins on the attack, opportunity knocked with a penalty at a breakdown about twenty-six metres from the posts. Botica calmly slotted the winning kick.

Scarlets A Thomas; K Phillips, G Maule (A Warren 28), S Williams, J Williams; R Priestland, G Davies; P John (R Evans 59), E Phillips, S Lee, J Ball, G Earle (J Snyman 55), A Shingler, J Barclay (J Turnbull 59), R McCusker (capt).

Harlequins: M Brown; O Lindsay- Hague (T Williams 59), M Hopper, T Molenaar, U Monye (B Botica 66); N Evans, K Dickson; J Marler, D Ward, W Collier (P Doran-Jones 23), N Kennedy (C Matthews 55), G Robson, T Guest (M Fa'asavalu 71), C Robshaw (capt), N Easter.

Referee J Garces (FFR); Att 7,516.