Prof’s Positives Week 17: Newcastle (a)

By The Prof
January 8 2004

Well it was the start of a new year and our third away trip in as many weeks and some might say the hardest of the three too. Sad memories of difficult journeys, cancelled flights and a disappointing loss flooded back from the equivalent fixture twelve months ago.

It was certainly a very exciting game with both sides really needing the points if they were to stay in contention for the play offs. Alanquin’s excellent report has covered the game but you really had to be there to experience the excitement of this very close game. The way Quins’ forwards turned over opposition ball was wonderful to see as were the excellent running lines from the Newcastle backs. The tackling from the whole Quins side was excellent especially when Newcastle pressed closer and closer to our line. It has been said that our players take great pride in their last ditch defence, it was seen when down to 13 men away to Sale and shown again in Newcastle.

It was wonderful to have both first choice wings playing together for only the third time this season, Ugo showed great pace to score Quins’ first try and to set up one for Jim Evans to finish off and George Harder made some fierce runs and put in some huge tackles including a one armed one that not only put mark Andrews on his back but also turned him making him cough up possession too!

It was a great team performance and it may be seen to be a bit harsh to single out any players but I am going to do it anyway – the Irish trio of Keogh, Dunne and Duffy combined well to put Duffy in for the second Quins try. Dunne looked to have done himself some serious injury in the second half but it is just a badly bruised elbow, this did allow Adrian Jarvis to come on as a replacement for his first taste of Premiership action. Jarvis gave a good display showing the excellent hands that we have seen so many times for the 2nd XV, U21s and England U21s. He put over the last kick of the game from out wide on the left under a lot of pressure from the booing crowd (this was the first time it happened in the game and should be put down to disappointment rather than any malice). Jarvis also put in some important tackles taking the rampaging Taione down at one point.

Andre Vos put in his usual gritty and wholehearted performance and Pat Sanderson was tackling all over the field too – he also had a brief 30 seconds where it looked like he was going to swoon like a silent movie star, he did manage to shake the knock off and get on with the game though.

The front row of Jones, Fuga and Leonard did well, Tani put in huge numbers of big tackles and Leonard was one of the players who drove Ceri Jones over the line right at the end to seal the win and try bonus for Quins. This has put Ceri at the top of the try scoring table with Keogh and Monye.

Monye provided another memorable moment from the game, Andrews had gathered the ball on the right but instead of making ground he was suddenly hit by Ugo and driven back about 5 yards even when other Falcons players drove in behind him! When you think there must be a good 4 or 5 stone difference in weight between Andrews and Monye you realise how strong the Quins wing is.

From reading the messages on this site’s board it seems that some people thought the game was lost when Newcastle went ahead in the 5th minute of injury time, but watching it live there seemed to be a composure among the players that was reminiscent of England in the World Cup Final. From the restart we put pressure on Newcastle and Vos charged down a kick and then Newcastle knocked on, there was time for the scrum and Quins won it and in a 12 man thing of beauty (rolling maul) Ceri Jones was propelled over the line. The kick was good meaning that Newcastle needed a try at least to win. The restart was gathered and kicked safely off the pitch – cue much singing in the Quins part of the crowd, players jumping about on the pitch, the team coming over to thank the travelling support and even Evs was seen to smile – although we don’t have any photographic evidence of it!

From the supporters’ point of view it was nice to reacquaint ourselves with a number of the Falcons fans we had met in Valladolid when they played VRAC.

So this was our third Premiership away win of the season, we only managed two last season and none the season before, all three have come against northern sides and two of them have involved a try bonus for us. We have also got 8 points from the three away games, this is unheard of in recent seasons and something we would all have been pleased with if offered them in December – the act that one game was a draw and one was a very narrow loss and we could so easily have got 14 points from these games shouldn’t make us feel too down.

On the injury front Andy Dunne’s elbow was checked out and isn’t badly damaged only bruised and his place will be taken by Paul Burke who returns from the stomach injury he has had for a while. Mike Worsley also returns from his back injury. The news from Simon Miall is good, he may be playing again as early as March and Josh Taumalolo is continuing to work hard on his back/leg injury.

After his string of fine performances and incredible run of tried Ceri Jones has been called up to the Welsh training squad for the Six Nations – thus fulfilling Mark Evans’ prediction at the beginning of the season.

Pat Sanderson has also been given a call up, not to the national side (yet) but to become the first active player to become Chairman of the PRA.

On the Academy/youth side of things Quins have done very well indeed Chris Robshaw, Mark Lambert and Marlow Warrington-Mattei have been selected in the England U19 squad to play Scotland later this month. In addition Steven Jay, Alex Rogers and James Sacha have been selected in the England squad of 31 to prepare for the four home unions festival which this year takes place in Belfast from April 7-17. Seven players (Charlie Amesbury, Marimba Odundo-Mendez, Anthony Allen, Tom Powell, Kiba Richards, Mark Abel and George Robson) from the Harlequins Academy have been named in the England 18gp. Schools and four (Jordan Turner-Hall, Mark Odejobi, John Brake and Rory Hamilton-Brown) have been selected for the London and South East 16gp. squad to take part in the Divisional Championship at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton in January. Well done to all the youngsters selected and to the staff in the Academy set up.

Finally this week the Quins Supporters Association (Quinssa) held an event at The Stoop where Tony Spreadbury was invited down to give a talk – I think all 80+ who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt a lot. As well as having an educational and enjoyable night the raffle that was held made in the range of £100 for the British Paralympic Association – thank you all for your generosity and thanks too to Spreaders for giving up his time.

This weekend the team heads off to Montauban for the first time, it is a chance to progress further in the Parker Pen competition and to get closer to the Heineken Cup next season.

Come on you Quins!