Quins Go Through To Trophy Semi-final

By AlanQuin
January 9 2006

Harlequins reached the semi-final stage of the Powergen National Trophy by defeating Plymouth Albion by 37 points to 24 at The Stoop in an unsatisfying match.

The lack of satisfaction is probably due to the expectation that at home Quins should be able to exercise a dominance that puts opponents away with a hatful of tries, as were Exeter and Penzance. I am not sure that is a reasonable expectation. Plymouth is a hard team to handle and they made Quins work hard and were close on their heels through most of the game.

The pack drive towards the line ©Prof

A dropped receive of the kick off by Mike Brown put Quins instantly on the back foot and in the ensuing ruck they conceded a penalty which Saumi kicked to put the visitors ahead within two minutes. From the restart Quins pressed up into their opponents half and were almost immediately awarded a penalty in a kickable position. Declining the three points on offer, Jarvis kicked for touch and from a line out close to the try line a good catch and drive saw Ceri Jones driven over for the try. Jarvis failed with the conversion from the touch-line, but Quins were in the lead for the first time at 5 – 3. But only another minute passed before another penalty conceded saw Saumi put the visitors into the lead 5 – 6.

Quins' new high tech score board ©AndyH

Quins were not having an easy time as Jarvis was in less than fluent form and was receiving close attention from the Plymouth flankers. Indeed the Plymouth defence was very quick to the breakdown and in numbers and first Fuga and then Jarvis found themselves isolated and conceding penalties. The latter occasion brought another kick at the posts from 40 metres but Saumi failed to score.

Quins went on the attack and a little more fluency in the backs’ play saw some advance until they gained a penalty for offside just in front of the posts. A tap and dart by So’oialo should have brought a try but was just held up over the line. Then in the twenty-eighth minute a series of attacks by both forwards and backs saw a series of rucks almost on the Plymouth line and Tani Fuga dived over the top of the mass of bodies to score. Once again Jarvis missed the conversion. 10 – 6.

Vos pinches a lineout ©Barquin Mad

Plymouth too sought to attack but their play lacked penetration as Quins resisted the pressure although the best of the attacks was only snuffed out when what might have been a try-scoring pass was adjudged forward. From the scrum which followed Quins had a penalty and from the line out which followed a series of excellent pick and drives and good handling saw Adrian Jarvis break through the defence to score near the posts. Jarvis added the simple conversion to give Quins the lead 17 – 6 with only five minutes of the half remaining.

Plymouth came back at once and from a line out inside the Quins twenty-two set up a good catch and drive which eventually saw prop Martin Rice touch down for the try. Saumi converted to leave Quins with a four point lead at the break. 17 – 13.

Quins' powerful rolling maul ©Barquin Mad

Plymouth came out for the start of the second half obviously very determined and only five minutes had elapsed when a concerted attack found Quins offside inside their own twenty two and Saumi added the three points. Quins came straight back and their next attack saw a good drop goal struck cleanly through the middle of the uprights by Jarvis to restore the four point lead. 20 – 16. Vos, who had picked up a leg injury, was replaced by Guest.

From a penalty awarded to Quins for an obstruction another attack deep into Plymouth territory saw the visitors concede a further penalty for offside allowing Quins to kick into the corner for an attacking lineout. Another good catch and drive saw Ceri Jones pushed over for his second try of the game. Jarvis added the points and Quins led 27 – 16.

Jarvis adds the points ©AndyH

For Plymouth on came Graham Dawe to replace Stewart Pearl, at 46 years of age still a player to be reckoned with in the late stages of a tough battle. Shortly after his arrival a penalty in midfield for offside allowed Plymouth to find touch on the twenty-two. A further offence by Quins in the line out allowed Plymouth to set up another line out on five metres. The catch and drive was well defended and from the turnover a very long kick was fielded by Arscott but the Quins’ runners caught him inside his own twenty-two and hustled him into touch.

But despite some unforced errors, Quins absorbed such pressure as Plymouth was able to exert, while Plymouth settled for another three points when Quins went offside with their try-line in some danger. Saumi kicked successfully. But only a few minutes later a penalty for a high tackle saw Jarvis kick successfully and with five minutes remaining the score was 30 – 19.

Plymouth was not yet finished off however. From the restart they came back strongly and from a penalty on Quins’ twenty-two gained a line out near the Quins’ try line. A massive attempt to resist the catch and drive failed and Graham Dawe was rumbled over to score. But Barnes failed with the conversion and only another converted try could turn the match in Plymouth’s favour. It was Quins that scored it.

Harder scores ©AndyH

As Plymouth’s backs sought to run down their left wing, a great tackle on the ball carrier by Will Greenwood dislodged the ball and he was able to flick the ball backwards into the path of George Harder who gathered cleanly. Harder beat the solitary defender and ran round under the posts for a try easily converted by Jarvis with the last kick of the match for a final score of 37 – 24.

In the end it was an efficient performance. It was not the free running spectacle that we would like to have seen and yet credit must also be given to Plymouth who defended stoutly and well. Although Jarvis did not seem to have a particularly good game, he managed a full set of scores totalling 17 points. Diprose, and Ceri Jones both had particularly good games. We lost only a couple of line-outs and stole at least five. The scrum was steady despite considerable pressure.

Still there was a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction. I suppose we expect too much?

Harlequins: M Brown; G Harder, W Greenwood, G Duffy, T Williams; A Jarvis, S So'oialo; C Jones, T Fuga (J Hayter, 73), R Nebbett (M Lambert, 80), P Bouza (J Evans, 73), S Miall, A Vos (capt; T Guest, 46), T Diprose, L Sherriff.

Scorers: Tries: Jones (2), Fuga, Jarvis, Harder Cons: Jarvis (3) Pen: Jarvis (1) Drop Goal: Jarvis

Plymouth Albion: L Arscott; N Sestaret, R van Eyk, K Fisilau, N Saumi (J Fabian, 76); E Barnes, N Cane (M Albina, 62); M Rice, S Pearl (G Dawe, 55), S Zimmerman (R Hopkins, 62), N Rouse, B Luxton (C Lowrie, 76), M Schusterman, T Hayes, D Thomas (capt).

Scorers: Tries: Rice, Dawe; Con: Saumi ; Pens: Saumi (4)

Referee: A Small (RFU)

Attendance: 4,573