Stuart Barnes calls us solid mediocre. Today we were better than that, perhaps splendid mediocre. It was a mixture of not doing much wrong and the added ingredient of an awesome Phil Murphy. People are suspicious of Spud. He does flashy stuff. But some wonder how much dirty, engine room work he actually puts in. Well today he was all flash. He was everywhere. Nicking line out ball, clearing up the loose ball, taking restarts, intercepting, and making run after run. It was quite something.

After 79 minutes London were staring at a defeat that would have been far harder to take than the recent near misses against Bath. The Quins wing Simon Keogh had just hooked up with a long pass from the Quins midfield and he scampered round our left flank to touch down. Quins were ahead for the first time in the game, and Dunne had a kick 10 metres in from touch to put his team 3 points in front. He made the kick.

After just 3 minutes of this game it seemed that London Irish were in for a long and dreary afternoon. Rob Hardwicke was standing but groggy. He wanted to go on, but he was left in little doubt by Richard Mack that he would have to be replaced. Not a great start, losing our favourite tight-head, the cornerstone of our scrum. As Rob was shepherded to the sidelines, 10 yards away, Beefy got to his feet but he was limping. He left the field as well, and on came Doug Wheatley. The good news was that Doug would play at tight-head, but Flav was our new loose-head. There followed a long discussion between the referee: Chris White, and the two captains. Presumably they were checking that scrums could still contested. They decided that they would be. The game started again after 7 minutes, and fairly soon it was obvious that Harlequins would be giving our scrum a torrid time. It was now that Murphy stepped up. At our next scrum, on halfway, we went backwards and wheeled, but Murph picked up and ran it back. The ball was moved from the ruck, Barry made a half break and at the next breakdown Quins killed the ball. Barry kicked the penalty. 3-0 after 13 minutes.

Soon after the restart Darren hit a big clearance that Monye caught and ran back. The ball was moved to Fuga, the hooker chipped but was charged down by Murph. Irish moved the ball left until a bad pass behind Horak, ended in Irish killing the ball. Dunne kicked the resulting penalty to make the score 3-3 after 17 minutes.

At a series of scrums the London Irish scrum could only find reverse gear, which meant Murph had to pick and go with any ball that we won. One great break by the big man took us deep into Quins territory. We pick and drove until Quins killed a ruck and Baz kicked a simple 3 points. 6-3 after 23 minutes.

Both back lines were moving the ball around, but without any real penetration. Sackey and Monye were having a good tussle, but were cancelling each other out. Monye knew there was no point in going outside with Sackey in front of him, and Baz put in a good tap tackle after Greenwood had cleverly manufactured some space for Ugo.

Other than at the scrum the forwards were also well matched, with each side getting tidy line out ball. Naka was varying his throws nicely.
5 minutes from half time Irish lost their first line out. After some elaborate Irish line dancing, Chris White awarded Quins a penalty. They kicked for the corner, and began to apply some pressure. It looked dicey until, with the line at his mercy, Tani Fuga knocked-on. Irish cleared from the scrum. Quins kicked back deep into the right corner, and Horak looked like he might be in a bit of a spot. From a tight angle he gave the ball a welly, the ball took a nice bounce into touch 70 metres up field ! Quins won their line out but we pushed the maul back a good 15 metres. There followed a short game of kick tennis until Declan took the ball up, but he was surprised in possession, and the ball was turned over. Further tennis until Ben Willis the Quins 9 kicked it out on the full from his 10 metre
line. Irish won the line out. Quins killed the next ruck and Baz kicked the 3.
9-3, 46 minutes gone.

From the restart Irish knocked on. Quins moved the ball left from the scrum, and were threatening again until Murph intercepted a pass. The line was at his mercy. But it was 70 metres away. He kicked ahead, knowing that Sackey was about, but Duffy had a 10 metre head start. He got to the ball with Paul bearing down. The Quin full back cleared to touch to end the half.

The second half started well for Quins. They camped in our half and went through a dozen phases, gradually working their way to our try line. Eventually we handled in a ruck 3 metres from our line. Quins took the scrum. It was no surprise to see them push our scrum over the try-line. Wills, the scrum-half ,touched down. Dunne missed the conversion. Still 9-8 to Irish with 49 minutes gone.

From the restart Quins cleared to their own 10 metre line. Irish lost their line out and Quins drove a maul into the Irish half. Irish were called for killing the maul. Dunne attempted the penalty from 45 metres. The ball hit the left upright and took an age to come down into Murph's hands. Baz cleared to touch. Irish stole the line out, but after a Barry garyowen, Irish were called for off-side. Dunne missed another long attempt.

Receiving a long Greenwood punt under his own posts, Murphy did well to tidy up and even managed to draw a Quins infringement. Barry cleared to touch and Irish made their way up field.
From a scrum on the left in the Quins 22, Irish moved the ball right via Murphy until Darren Edwards floated a pass out to Sackey. He went for the corner, but Monye managed to force him into touch just short. The Quins winger took a knock for his troubles but was soon on his feet again. London Irish continued to press for the try. Sacks got the ball and Monye together but managed to carry him and a couple of other Quins with him. Dawson made a half break to within 5 metres. Irish hammered away, but their only reward was a 5 yard scrum. 64 minutes gone and the Quin's tight head - Jon Dawson - now made way for Ceri Jones. Naka - who had been receiving regular treatment all through the game - finally called it a day and made way for Kieran Roche. Strudders now moved to loose head ! Our other international front-rower didn't offer his services, and the scrums would now be uncontested.
From the scrum, Nils Mordt took a good angle for the posts, but was stopped short. Flav had a go, and Quins killed the ruck at the left post. Barry kicked the simple 3.
12-8. 15 minutes to go and, crucially, Quins needed more than 3 to avoid a loss.

Quins lock Jim Evans now made way for Bill Davison, and the rain started to fall. The game had started in bright sunshine. The clouds had rolled in as the match progressed.

From the restart, Baz punted the ball to Monye, who ran the ball back, until he was well tackled by Dawson, who then went down holding his hamstring. On 70 minutes he was replaced by Gustard. With 10 minutes to go Irish were content to kick the ball deep at every opportunity. Quins did the same. From a Quins mark they cleared and Irish started a good maul from their own 10 metre line. Strudders broke from the maul and made further ground. The ball moved left and from a ruck Baz attempted a tension relieving drop goal. It was charged down. 79 minutes gone and Quins had to keep the ball now. They took the ball over half way. They were moving the ball well along their backs but it seemed that Irish had their measure, until a half break and great long pass (who ?) released Keogh for that heart breaking score. 13-12 to Quins, and Dunne's conversion made it 12-15.
80 minutes gone, and the rain was coming down properly now.
The restart. Barry chipped high in the air straight down the middle, just over the 10 metre line, and somehow Irish got the ball back. They soon won a scrum on the Quins 22. The ball was moved left and Quins were penalised at a ruck, 35 metres out, 7 metres from the left touch line. The sky darkened, the wind began to swirl. 83 minutes gone. Barry took his time and slotted it just inside the left upright. 15-15.

Quins hit the restart deep. Barry cleared for a Quins line out on the Irish 10 metre line. Quins won the line out and started the rolling maul right down the middle. Irish knew if they infringed now it would be an easy 3 points for Dunne. The maul was finally halted. The ball went back to Dunne, 40 metres out. His drop kick was caught by Horak, short and just right. Horak called the mark and kicked the ball straight down the middle to half way. Quins came again but a knock ended the game.

There wasn't much surprising about this game. Our defense stifled Quins for most of the game, and often forced them into mistakes. Our forwards competed well in the loose where Chris White let a lot go but was consistent. In attack, we protected the ball well, but we still struggle to find a way over the try line.
Declan again made a lot of tackles, often wrapping up the ball in the process.
Darren Edwards did what he does well, without any of the sniping runs that people expect Kevin Barrett would provide. It would have been a good test for Kevin, behind a retreating pack, but then Murph was doing most of the tidying up.
Baz was his effective self. He kicked all his points. Good touch finders. He made a couple of nice half breaks early on to keep the Quins back row at home. If Darren doesn't do it, Barry has to.
The centre pairing was not as published. Nils Mordt was in for Greenstock, and played at inside centre. He had a decent game. Geoff Appleford has picked up a worrying habit of cutting inside almost exclusively. A number of times he thought about moving it on, but then decided against it and moved inside to contact. Maybe Quins were lined up to stop him getting the ball to Sackey.
Sacks and Monye were a match for each other, which says a lot for both their defensive games.

The heroes today though were Naka, Flav, Doug, and Murphy. The cobbled together front-row hung in there and actually got better as the match progressed. And Murph carried the team on his shoulders today. If you half closed your eyes you would have sworn he was playing behind a dominating scrum, such was his effect on the game. After the early departure of Beefy and La-la I think a lot of people would have grabbed a draw with both hands.

So now we are left with 2 challenging away games and a home game that we should win. If we finish between 5th and 9th we will be about where we expect to be.


-----

London Irish 15 - 15 Harlequins

Penalties :
Everitt 5 Dunne 1

Tries:
Wills, Keogh
Conversions:
Dunne 1

Scoring: 1st half: 3-0 (13 mins), 3-3 (17 mins), 6-3 (23 mins), 9-3 (46 mins)
2nd half: 9-8 (47 mins), 12-8 (66 mins), 12-15 (79 mins), 15-15 (84 mins)


15. Horak 14. Sackey 13. Appleford 12. Mordt 11.Bishop 10. Everrit 9. Edwards
8. Murphy 7.Dawson(Gustard 70) 6. Danaher 5. Casey 4. Strudwick(C) 3. Hardwick(Wheatley 3)
2. Drotske(Roche 64) 1.Hatley(Flavin 3)

This was Michael Horak’s 100th game for the club.

Attendance: 9,574

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