A win is a win... SP (ND1) Report

By AlanQuin
November 14 2005

A relatively poor performance still gained another five points as Harlequins produced their ninth successive league win by 22 – 29 in a second successive victory over Sedgley Tigers.

It was never going to be a continuation of the previous week’s try-fest as the home side had learned a number of lessons from the previous week’s defeat. To help their opponents, Quins’ seemed to think it would be just a continuation from where they had left off. It wasn’t anything of the sort.

From the start Quins seemed intent on running the ball. Almost immediately Quins had a line-out just outside the twenty-two. The ball came wide to Monye who beat the first tackler but not the second. A penalty for offside saw the ball kicked for an attacking lineout five metres from the try-line. A further penalty for an offence in the lineout led to a repeat. This time So’oilo darted over the line but was adjudged to have been held up. From the resulting five metre scrum the ball was flicked out to the scrum half who again went for the line and this time was successful. Mehrtens missed the conversion from the touchline, the ball curling across the face of the posts. After only five minutes Quins led 0-5.

A little undue aggression by Chris Rowe against Ceri Jones saw the Sedgley lock sent to the sin-bin. Quins were now running the ball at every opportunity until Jim Evans broke through two non-effective tackles in midfield to score under the posts. The conversion took the score to 0-12 after ten minutes.

The forward battle and the crash ball seemed to be Sedgley’s only tactic. Unforced errors abounded on both sides and the referee’s whistle increased in its frequency of use. But the home side turned up their efforts and increased pressure on Quins. A penalty for an offence at the line-out took Sedgley to a lineout on Quins’ five metre line. By now, too, they were back to full strength and from another penalty and lineout they gained an attacking scrum. Immediately Quins were adjudged to be offside and a third attacking lineout followed and then another penalty and another lineout which finally saw the ball cleared to touch about 35 metres out from the Quins’ line.

From a scrum Sedgley attacked again and when the fly-half, Jones, slipped as he was about to be tackled it created an involuntary dummy which sent his tackler past him leaving a gap through which Jones was able to recover and ran through to score. The conversion was successful and the score was 7 -12.

Quins tried to fight back immediately and good kicking by Duffy took them to a lineout on their opponents’ ten metre line. The backs again tried to run the ball and a fine run by Simon Keogh saw him just tackled into touch. More attacks failed for simple errors as passes were adjudged forward or the ball was knocked-on. Eventually as the half neared its end, a quick tap penalty saw the ball moved through a number of hands until Simon Miall broke clear and scored under the posts. The simple conversion left Quins in the lead by 7-19.

But the half was not yet over and after a dangerous looking Quins’ attack saw the ball reach Keogh in space, the final pass was held to be forward. From the resultant scrum Sedgely’s fly-half, Phil Jones, rightly seeing the Quins’ defence pulled to the right, fashioned a kick through to the left corner which the winger, Chris aallHalHall, was just able to touch down for the try The conversion attempt failed and the half-time score was 12-19.

Harlequins started the second half with clear determination to score more tries and some excellent fluent moves with very skilful passing between Duffy, Monye, Masson and Keogh saw Duffy cross the try-line only to have the try disallowed for a knock-on in the touchdown. But after ten minutes, from a scrum, the ball came to Will Greenwood and his accurate cross kick to the right corner found Ugo Monye who took the catch and scored. Mehrtens missed the extra points but the try bonus was secured. 12 - 24

A penalty conceded on the Quins 10 metre line allowed Sedgley to take another three points, the first time either side had kicked for goal despite the numerous penalties awarded and the gap narrowed. 15-24

The inevitable procession of substitutes started as the game moved into the final quarter. Williams came on as a blood replacement for Duffy, Deane replaced Greenwood. The Quins props were replaced. Despite these changes, Quins increased the pressure and more than once they were stopped only a yard or aso from the line. The home team, too, made a number of replacements. Duffy returned with the blood staunched.

Suddenly from a lineout a slick reverse pass by So’oialo set the backs in motion and Monye haring down the right hand touchline with Duffy in support to take the inside pass and score in the corner. With only ten minutes left Quins led 15-29.

Sedgely did not give up and did not seem to tire as many teams have done in the last quarter and finally from a set-piece possession just outside Quins twenty-two, Ian Voortman broke the defensive line to score and De Jager’s conversion was the last kick of the match to leave Sedgley as only the second team to earn a league point from Quins this season with the score 22-29.

Afterwards Dean Richards said that Sedgley had put a lot into their game and he was pleased that they had given Quins a real test. Five league points was what they had come for and what they had achieved.

But management, players and supporters are all aware that the team will have to play a lot better than that on Sunday at The Stoop.

Sedgley Tigers
Phil Gazzola, Richard Oxley, Gerallt Evans, Chris Rowe, Erik Lund, Richard Senior, Jimmy Ponton, Sam Anania, Chris Wilkinson, Phil Jones, Richard Hopkinson, Ian Voortman, Shaun Woof, Jon Feeley, Chris Hall.
Replacements: Gareth Roberts, Paul Keys, Petrus du Plessis, Tim Fourie, Jon Skurr, Alistair Atkinson, Arno de Jager

Scorers: Tries: Ian Voortman, Shaun Woof, Jon Feeley. Conversions: Phil Jones (1), Arno de Jager (1). Penalty: Phil Jones (1)

NEC Harlequins
Ceri Jones (Mike Worsley, 60 mins), Jimmy Richards (James Hayter, 74 mins), Ricky Nebbett (Lorne Ward, 60 mins), Jim Evans (James Inglis, 70 mins), Simon Miall, Christopher Robshaw (Luke Sherriff, 70 mins), Andre Vos, Nick Easter, Steve So’oialo, Andrew Mehrtens, Simon Keogh, Tajiv Masson, Will Greenwood (Mel Deane, 58 mins), Ugo Monye, Gavin Duffy (Tom Williams, 74 mins).
Replacements: James Hayter (Jimmy Richards, 74 mins), Lorne Ward (Ricky Nebbett, 60 mins), Mike Worsley (Ceri Jones, 60 mins), James Inglis (Jim Evans, 70 mins), Luke Sherriff (Christopher Robshaw, 70 mins), Mel Deane (Will Greenwood, 58 mins), Tom Williams (Gavin Duffy, 74 mins)

Scorers: Tries: Jim Evans, Simon Miall, Steve So’oialo, Ugo Monye, Gavin Duffy. Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (2)