Bedford Pre-Season Preview

By AlanQuin
August 12 2004

There’s a title to defend! Doesn’t that sound nice! Well to business. When I read that the pre-season fixture with Bedford on Wednesday evening was a 2nd XV game, I began to hope that Quins were really serious about their defence of the well-won Zurich A League title won so convincingly last season

Losing only two matches, league or friendly, during the season and averaging seven tries per match, excellent running rugby with considerable handling skills produced exciting and enjoyable games to watch.

There have been a few departures from those who have been regularly part of the reserves. Moore and Jewell, Bemand and Willis, and Josh Taumololo and Laurent Gomez have left us. Of the new signings I would expect Joe Mbu, when he recovers from a broken hand sustained in the Compass Sevens, and Maama Molitika to feature in the side together with more of the Academy players who were pushing their way into the side last season. Duncan James, Cameron Dott, Mike Brown, Mark Lambert and one or two more were on the verge of breaking through last year.

Injuries are already taking their toll. The Compass Sevens have removed Mbu (hand), Chris Cracknell, last seen on crutches, (ankle), Jim Evans and Tom Williams has a triple hairline fracture of the collarbone sustained earlier in the year. No doubt training will have injured others.

Despite the losses through departure and injury, I expect Quins to produce a rather better performance than the traumatic experience which marked our last visit in the Premiership in January 2000. Then only Zinzan Brooke’s entry into the fray with six minutes left to play enabled him to produce the try which won the match 28-25. None of the Quins who played then are still playing for us now, although Roy Winters was playing for Bedford.

That Quins are taking the matter seriously is not in doubt. The team, which is set out below, has a mix of experience and youth and will give encouragement to a number of the Academy players. Five of the new signings are in the starting fifteen which is captained by Luke Sherriff.

The performance of the new recruits will be of particular interest. How Staunton performs at fly-half and is Molitika is the tough forward that the Club had been looking for. Is our new scrum-half the real quality performer that we have needed in that position since the loss of ND? It will also be interesting to see how Barratt and Brown and Guest acquit themselves in this company.

Team : 15. Gavin Duffy, 14. Henry Barratt, 13. Dafydd James, 12. Mel Deane, 11. Mike Brown , 10. Jeremy Staunton, 9. Steve So’oialo, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. James Hayter, 3. Maurice Fitzgerald, 4. Karl Rudzki, 5. Roy Winters, 6. Maama Molitika, 7. Luke Sherriff (Capt.) 8. Tom Guest
Replacements: 16. Marlow Warrington-Mattei, 17. Tom Muggridge, 18. Mark Lambert, 19. Simon Miall, 20. Ben Thomson, 21. Gavin Hart, 22. Duncan James, 23. Adrian Jarvis, 24. Andy Reay 25. Charlie Amesbury