Quins Lead A League With Defeat Of Bristol (14-28)

By AlanQuin
February 14 2006

A comfortable win away over a Bristol United team which lacked penetration against a well organised Quins’ defence, took Harlequins to the top of the southern section of the Guinness A League.

Quins played the first half into the face of a strong wind and faced a determined start from the home team so that much of the first fifteen minutes were spent deep in the Quins’ half. The attacks were staunchly resisted and despite being penalised a number of times, the defence held firm. They were helped by some elementary errors by Bristol. Attacking line-outs were wasted by the ball not being thrown straight, a three man overlap was wasted.

Despite the pressure, Quins resistance did not falter and gradually the pack began to overcome the Bristol forwards. The Bristol scrum began to go backwards and they lost line-out ball to Robson and Burke. A yellow card for Robson gave Bristol some respite and more possession. Shortly afterwards a rather backwards cross kick to the right wing from fly-half Tommy Hayes saw the defence drawn out of position and despite the recipient being tackled he was able to pass the ball, suspiciously forward, on to Vaugn Going who crossed to touch down behind the posts. Hayes converted.

Encouraged by the score Bristol resumed their pressure but, despite being a man short, the defence held firm. A lineout close to the Quins’ line was stolen and cleared. A penalty in Quins’ favour saw the ball knocked on at the lineout but now Quins were back to fifteen men and the Bristol threat was less immediate. A penalty, kicked for the posts whne no time remained for a line-out, saw Mike Brown’s kick fail to score and the half-time whistle followed with the home side leading 7 – 0

Quins made wholesale substitutions at the interval with Vass taking over at fly-half from Mike Brown. Quins now had the advantage of the wind at their backs. From the restart, which was kicked deep and followed up quickly, Quins were clearly determined to pressurise their opponents and it was only a few minutes into the half when the ball came to George Harder from a scrum on the 10 metre line. With one of his typically robust and penetrating runs Harder went through the Bristol defensive line and found Charlie Amesbury in space outside him and the winger gratefully took the pass and went over for the equalising try. Duncan James, taking over kicking duties, converted.

The forwards were now dominating in the scrum and ruck and Bristol never got quick ball. Quins began to exert even greater pressure and a series of scrums saw Bristol pushed back over their own line for Tony Diprose to score. A fine conversion kick by James added the points.

Shortly after gaining the lead, it was the turn of the backs and quick passing right saw the ball reach Charlie Amesbury who broke through two tackles to score. Again Duncan James converted and Quins led 7 -21. Despite Bristol’s attempt to attack again it was Quins who scored again with another good run from Amesbury finding Kiba Richards outside him at speed and there was no stopping him as the bonus point was secured.

Bristol did attempt to launch further attacks and were assisted by a yellow card for Darren Clayton. This enable the Bristol pressure to increase and for the last five minutes they were almost on the Quins’ try-line until, despite a number of handling errors and various offences for which Quins might well have been awarded a penalty, the referee found an infringement and, irrelevantly, awarded Bristol a penalty try. The conversion was the last kick of the match making the final score a more respectable 14 – 28

This was a good, spirited Quins’ performance such as we have come to expect from the A League games. Duncan James’ place kicking was a revelation. The win, combined with Gloucester’s heavy defeat by Wasps leaves Quins three points clear at the top of the Southern section of the A League.

TEAMS

BRISTOL UNITED: 15. Vaughan Going, 14. Marko Stanojevic, 13. Andy Reay,
12. Mark Denney, 11. Jon Pritchard, 10. Tommy Hayes, 9. Greg Nicholls, 1. Alex Clarke, 2. Neil Clark, 3. Martin Rospidel, 4. Nathan Budget, 5. Jay Williams,
6. Richard Martin-Redman, 7. Craig Short, 8. Dan Ward-Smith
Replacements
Saul Nelson, Chris Lowery, Ian Grieve, Jake Rauluni, Danny Gray, Leo Talui, Mark
Irish

HARLEQUINS: 15. Charlie Amesbury, 14. Kiba Richards, 13. Mel Deane,
12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. George Harder, 10. Mike Brown, 9. Duncan James,
1. Aston Croall, 2. James Hayter, 3. Lorne Ward, 4. Kevin Burke, 5. George Robson,
6. Pablo Bouza, 7. Luke Sherriff,8. Tony Diprose.
Replacements
Hugh Inness, Mark Lambert, James Ingliss, Darren Clayton, Chris Robshaw, Ian
Vass, Adam Thompstone.

Referee: A Briggs (RFU)