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Bath time over as Harlequins pull the plug


By Mighty Quin
November 2 2015

It was with a sense of excitement for a weekend of good rugby (and a lovely time away with Mrs MQ!) that I rose from my bed, packed my bag and made my way to Bath. Journey completed safely, The Kingsmead Kitchen was the setting for some excellent pre-match nosh, and it was with a full belly and a spring in my step that we made the short walk through town to The Rec.

The early morning bitterness had given way to glorious sunshine and the small band of travelling Quins fans were in position as the final notes of the Last Post tailed off for the Remembrance Day Commemoration. Having not won or managed to a try on our last three league visits to the Rec, Harlequins knew they were in for a tough afternoon.

 Matt Carley blew the whistle and the game kicked off. Visser took the ball cleanly and after several set up phases the first of many Care box kicks went into the Bath half. Right from the off Bath were willing to use width and carry the ball, and but for some uncharacteristic handling errors and wayward passes they may have made more ground. Joe Gray’s first dart was strongly competed for and very untidy possession for Quins was fortunately judged to be knocked on by Bath as Eastmond had gathered the loose ball and slipped through a gap for what would have been the first try.

 The first points came via a Nick Evans penalty, Quins keeping hold of the ball well with some snappy passing leading to a ruck offence from Bath. Ford broke down the left and this led to a scrum, setting the platform for another contentious part of the day as Carley struggled to get compliance from both sides at the scrum. Numerous resets later and Bath were given a free kick for Quins driving early, a quick tap putting our defence on the back foot. Adam Jones was penalized at the breakdown and Bath kicked to the corner. The line out set was repelled illegally after Jack Clifford pulled down the front man, and Bath kicked their first 3 points.

 Bath knocked on in their 22 just after the restart and another free kick for early driving was given to Quins. The boos began to ring out with numerous scrum rests, Joe Marler shouting “let’s get on with it” and Matt Carly pleading with the front rows for space and correct binding. Eventually with both sides popping up a contentious penalty was given to Quins with Bath not staying straight, Evans converting for a 6-3 lead.

 The next passage of play was all Bath, with Quins struggling to stay in the lead. Some hard scrummaging from Bath turned over a Quins put in and only some desperate scrambling defence kept out David Wilson a few yards out from the line. The scrum woes continued and a dominant Bath managed an attacking wheel, a marginal forward pass called just before Anthony Watson was held up over the line.  Despite a brief respite as Easter and Twomey enjoyed disrupting another Bath attack with a well won ruck turnover, Bath were immediately back into Quins territory and eventually the numbers told; a delightful miss pass from Devoto, Eastmond gathered well and scampered past Visser to score in the corner. A Ford conversion made it 10-6 to Bath.

 Play started to move to and fro; both sides holding on to the ball without much imagination before Evans eventually narrowed the score to 10-9 with another penalty. On a couple of occasions Visser had looked dangerous and he took another restart under pressure, making 60 metres down field before offloading to Yarde who was hauled down. Bath went off their feet at the resulting breakdown to give away another penalty. Evans certainly had his kicking boots on and made no mistake to put Quins 12-10 ahead, a seemingly unlikely score at this stage after all the pressure from Bath. The age-old curse of immediately conceding points struck from the restart and Quins gave away a penalty with Gray off his feet, Ford kicked Bath back into the lead and 13-12 is how we finished the half.

 Taking advantage of the Queue Buster jugs at the Thatcher’s stand seemed like a bright idea, and very glad I am that we were watered in time for the second half, as immediately it was all action from the restart, in stark contrast to some of the listless play of the first 40 minutes. 

 Harlequins were on the attack immediately with Yarde and Brown combining well on the right, before another Nick Evans penalty got the first points of the half on the board. The next minute a moment of individual brilliance from Danny Care swung the pendulum right back in Quins’ favour. Bath seemed to be sleeping at a ruck inside the Quins 22, and Care’s electric speed off the base of the ruck took him clear of the covering Bath defenders on the left. Outpacing Ford after a lovely chip through, poor covering from Houston at the back left Care able to dribble the ball forwards, gather and finish a super 80 metre solo effort. Evans converted and suddenly it was 22-13 in Quins’ favour.

 With vigour and speed Quins attacked from deep again; Yarde making ground through the middle, and Care and Evans combining to turn the Bath defence and sweep from end to end in a matter of seconds. Bath were rocking - Brown sent a deep kick back into the Bath 22 which Matawalu fielded into touch, and the first signs of Bath discontent surfaced with a show of dissent towards the (correct) AR decision to award the line out to Quins. The rolling maul was coming into play and it’s turning into a real weapon for us at the moment, Bath halting it illegally through Mercer. What a turn around at half time, another three points for Nick Evans and Harlequins and a 25-13 lead on 50 minutes.

 Ford changed up his kick off on the restart but unfortunately found Mike Brown who took the ball well under great pressure. Bath attacked from a quick line out but couldn’t find a way through the stout Quins defence despite some lovely slight of hand and decoy runners. Around this time the changes were rung with Devoto (one pass aside he was unusually quiet) leaving the field and Priestland coming on. Another rolling maul in Bath territory and another penalty to Harlequins, Garvey giving away 3 points as Evans nailed another shot at goal.

 If ever Bath needed something it was now, and they were duly provided with a shot at goal as Jack Clifford disrupted a promising attack by lying in the way at a ruck, Ford converting their first points of the half for 28-15. Charlie Matthews made his entrance with trickle of Bath fans starting to head for the doors.

 Visser and Care were full of running and a sweet offload from Brown set those pair off on an interchange which took Harlequins into the Bath 22 again, Yarde following up on support. The attack unfortunately petered out as Bath were defending well, but an offside transgression gave Evans another 3 points.

 The Bath fans frustrations with Matt Carley’s whistle were growing, boos at the scrum when the loosehead was judged to have driven to ground, and another penalty at the successful Quins’ driving maul. Ironic cheers rang out when a penalty went the way of the hosts, but indeed Harlequins fans may have had their own legitimate grumbles after a third successive maul infraction, but we can’t have it all our way.

 The TMO was called into action as a marginal forward pass from Brown ruled out a debut try from Visser, a flowing move from right to left well finished in the corner. The decision was by no means clear cut, several replays required and after Tim’s performance through the rest of the game who’d have begrudged benefit of the doubt to the attacking side?

 A huge drive from Quins turned over a Bath scrum, and the TMO was called on again with a Kyle Eastmond no arms tackle on Yarde resulted in 10 minutes on the sideline for the Bath man. Harlequins made their growing dominance tell with more ball retention and eventually Dave Ward finished off an overlap on the left hand side. It was now game over and the Bath fans exodus was in full flow, 38-16.

 Harlequins seemed to switch off in the final 8 minutes and Bath came back with renewed interest in search of a losing bonus point. A series of penalties brought Bath to within 5 metres and Auterac finished off a try from the back of a driving maul to make it 38-21. There was still time for another thrilling move from the Bath backs - a Ford chip over and Rokoduguni gather causing havoc in the covering defence. Step in Mark Lambert and Ben Botica, an enormous dual effort preventing a score in the corner for Houston as the TMO judged him to be in touch. A period of Bath ball retention coupled with the fact that the game was won did lead to another try, Rokoduguni scoring this time in the corner and Ford nailing his conversion for a final score of 38-28.

 While Bath fans may complain about the referee, the reality is they didn’t help themselves with poor discipline and poor execution when they had all the territory and possession in the first half. Matt Carley set a standard at the breakdown, and Danny Care provided a lesson in referee management for the Bath lads. Ultimately there can be few complaints; Harlequins defended resolutely for the most part, Evans was perfect from the tee and we ran out deserved winners. A very encouraging performance!

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Bath time over as Harlequins pull the plug
Discussion started by ComeAllWithin.co.uk , 02/11/2015 23:55
ComeAllWithin.co.uk
02/11/2015 23:55
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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poorfour
03/11/2015 00:13
Thanks, MQ, a good read

InsertQuinsPunHere
03/11/2015 07:45
Beautifully prosaic!

NicoWilson
03/11/2015 08:28
Excellent write up. Thank you. I hope you have the time to do more.

QuincyJones
03/11/2015 08:35
Superb MQ! 😉

brfc_quin
03/11/2015 08:39
Thanks for a great read!

InsertQuinsPunHere
03/11/2015 08:57
p.s. Love the headline too!

Mayor West
03/11/2015 08:58
Thanks MQ, enjoyed that.

mighty_quin
03/11/2015 09:51
Thanks all. A few spelling errors but as I didn't proof read I'm not surprised - it'll at least teach me for next time!

Monte
03/11/2015 10:56
Great read. I wish Inhad been there!

DOK.
03/11/2015 12:10
I was glad empics gave us that picture too - very fitting!

Rocker
03/11/2015 13:14
Good stuff, thanks for the review

SiBolton
03/11/2015 13:42
Excellent review thanks
Also have to say that I thought our support did the team proud, very vocal at the Rec, here's hoping for the same on Friday night

Boonie
04/11/2015 14:13
Much appreciated! smiling smiley

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"

Bedfordshire Boy
04/11/2015 14:21
Thanks MQ, great read.

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