Preview: Bedford Blues v NEC Harlequins

By Worried of Whitton
December 2 2005

Back to the business of National Division 1 this week as Harlequins look to extend their unbeaten run. This week Harlequins meet by Bedford Blues, with a 15.00  kick off for this much anticipated match Saturday December 3rd  at the Goldington Road ground  

The match has long been sold out so there is no point in traveling if you do not have a ticket. Interestingly last week Bedford recorded an attendance of just 922!

We are well aware that the next two weeks could determine Harlequins 2005/06 season, after playing third placed Bedford this week, they then travel down to Devon to met 4^th placed Plymouth Albion on December 10^th.  A win in both matches would put some significant day light between Harlequins and the other runners in the race for the ND1 title. If the unthinkable happens and we don t get a win this weekend we will stay top, although the lead would be diminished.

 

 

As can be seen from the ND 1 table, Harlequins currently have a significant advantage of 11 points over Bedford although they still have that game in hand against Exeter, and 16 points over Plymouth who we meet the following week, and of course we have a goal difference of seismic proportions, over the other ND1 teams.

There is no denying that Bedford are a very good side, they haven't given away a bonus point to any team this season, they have the second best defensive record after Harlequins and they have only lost once although they collected a bonus point, two weeks ago away to Plymouth 23-28. Bedford also drew their first match of the season against Otley, but, as we found last season, after playing Saracens away, a draw in stead of a win can prove very costly at the end of the season.

The defeat in the league by Plymouth was doubly upsetting for Bedford Supporters as it was the same weekend Harlequins demolished the Pirates! It appears that Bedford gave the game to Plymouth and lost their hitherto “unbeaten” title, through silly mistakes, by giving away needless penalties, not fully concentrating, and remembering to play for the full eighty minutes, an area in which Harlequins excel.

In this “see saw” of a match with the lead changing hands many times,  the home side went ahead through two penalties in the first ten minutes, Bedford pulled a penalty back but a third penalty for Plymouth restored the difference.

Bedford scored the games first try on 32 minutes when No 8 Shaun Brady went over. The conversion was unsuccessful. Bedford picked up a second try on the stroke of half time when scrum half Alex Page scored and this time Harris converted for 15-9, only for Plymouth to snatch the lead back in injury time with a converted try 16-15 at half time. Six minutes into the second half and Bedford regained the lead with a try from flanker Nic Strauss but the lead did not last long  as Plymouth  scored another try to make it 21-20 ahead. A penalty to Bedford ten minutes from time gave them the lead again, but Plymouth took the match in the 80^th minute, when their centre, Keni Fisilau went over for the try which was converted giving Bedford their first defeat of the season.

Last weekend both sides comprehensively beat their opponents from lower divisions in the Powergen Trophy Competition. At home, Bedford beat Esher 57-17 running in nine tries, and interesting sentence from their match report states “Esher’s Matt Moore ran most of the length of the field for a breakaway try, after intercepting a pass by Junior Paramore, and understandably no Blues were seriously in pursuit!”

This will be a tough game for Harlequins, aren’t they all this year, but it will just as tough for Bedford, even with their home advantage of the sloping pitch. The weather is not looking too promising either, according to the forecast with heavy morning rain giving way to afternoon drizzle so it is unlikely there will be a fast running game. Quins are no strangers to the Goldington Road ground. The two sides meet in the Premiership back in 1999/2000 season when Harlequins won both their matches, the scores were close. In more recent times, Harlequins indeed, lost their most recent meeting pre season match 10-7 in 2004, and as Alan Quin reported, had much in common with the old Punch cartoon in that it was only good in parts and not too many parts at that! For what it is worth the Rugby Times predicts Harlequins to win by 7 points.

Bedford have made just two changes from the side that played Esher last week. In what may affect the front line play, Bedford’s injured Hooker Matt Price is replaced by Chris Price, and at center Emyr Lewis replaces Mike Staten.

Harlequins have made six changes to the side that beat Bridgwater last weekend, as back come most of the rested players. It is known that due to contractual issues Ian Vass will not be playing against his old club, so So’oialo returning from his international match with Samoa last weekend starts at scrum half. In the back division, Gavin Duffy returns to the midfield in place of Jordan Turner-Hall and will partner Tosh Masson, as Will Greenwood is unavailable for selection due to a hamstring injury.

In the pack, Ceri Jones, Tani Fuga and Ricky Nebbett all return to the front row, in place of Mike Worsley, Jimmy Richards and Lorne Ward respectively. The other change sees Jim Evans take over from Pablo Bouza in the second row. Congratulations to Simon Miall who despite the constant changes in the starting line up this season, has the distinction of being the only player to start every game. We already knew from Scotty that Worsley is injured and Deane continues to be rested following his concussion at the Stoop two weeks ago.

This is a formidable line up and for those not traveling to Bedford there will be live commentary on three counties radio and you can click to the site on

In addition Pirates are at home to Coventry this weekend whilst Plymouth travel to Sedgley Park.

Hopefully, with another good performance, we’ll have much more room to move at the top of the league by the end of the weekend.

 NEC Harlequins:
15) Tom Williams, 14) Simon Keogh 13) Gavin Duffy, 12)Tosh Masson, 11), Ugo Monye,
10) Andrew Mehrtens, 9) Steve So’oialo 1) Ceri Jones, 2) Tani Fuga , 3) Ricky Nebbitt 4) Jim Evans, 5)Simon Miall, 6) Andre Vos, 7) Luke Sherriff  8) Nick Easter,
Replacements:
16. James Hayter,17. Lorne Ward,18. Kevin Burke,19. Chris Robshaw,20. Adrian Jarvis, 21. Mike Brown,22. George Harder 

Bedford Blues:
15. Mark Harris,14. Craig Moir,13. Matt Allen,12. Emyr Lewis,11. Mike Staten,10. Ali Hepher, 9. Dom Malone, 1. Soane Tonga'Uhia, 2. Chris Johnson, 3. John Brooks, 4. Jon Phillips, 5. Arthur Brenton, 6. Nic Strauss, 7. Adam Kettle, 8. Junior Paramore,
Replacements: 16. David Ward,17. Matt Volland,18. Marc Comb,19. Shaun Brady  20. Alex Page,21. Tom Luke, 22. Liam Roberts

Match Officials:
Referee: Martin Fox
Touch judges: Rowan Kitt, Ken Stewart
Assessor: Clive Leeke