Harlequins A 27-26 Saracens A
By AlanQuin November 6 2007
A second win in the Guinness A League at The Stoop last night, by a single point over Saracens, has left Quins poised at the top of the Southern section of the league. But it was a close run thing as Quins allowed a 15 point lead at half time to slip away until with only eight minutes remaining they were only just ahead and clinging on by their fingertips.
A second win in the Guinness A League at The Stoop last night, by a single point over Saracens, has left Quins poised at the top of the Southern section of the league. But it was a close run thing as Quins allowed a 15 point lead at half time to slip away until with only eight minutes remaining they were only just ahead and clinging on by their fingertips.
From the start both teams tried to inject pace and to move the ball through the hands in attack. At times they seemed to be playing sevens rather than the fifteen-man game, doing so with a gay abandon but a lack of precision that turned over possession. Saracens pulled themselves together first and set up an attack with fast movement of the ball to the right where they created a two-man overlap which allowed the winger, James Short, to run in for the easy try. The conversion attempt failed. Only five minutes had elapsed and Saracens led 0 – 5.
A few minutes later, with Quins on the attack, they attempted a quick tap penalty, but when called back because Saracens were not back 10 metres and no advantage had accrued, Jarvis opted to have some kicking practice and duly made the score 3 – 5.
Harlequins now began to try to increase the pace of their attacks but were not able to break away. A fine run ended when Stegmann was bundled into touch, but the next thrust produced a penalty which Jarvis kicked to touch deep in the opposition twenty-two. From the lineout a catch and drive rumbled inexorably over the Saracens’ line where Phil Davies touched down for the try. Jarvis’ conversion from wide out on the left was successful and put Quins into the lead 10 – 5.
Quins were beginning to show some invention in attack. A marvellously subtle inside pass from Masson for Guest almost put the latter in for a try until uncharacteristically he hesitated when only ten metres out and lost the ball forward as he tried to evade a tackle. Crossing, accidental offside and other unnecessary errors halted attacks and further pressure ended in penalties to Saracens. After twenty-five minutes, a penalty forty metres from the posts offered Jarvis further practice and again he made no mistake increasing the lead to 13 – 5.
Quins were giving away needless penalties and two in quick succession allowed Saracens to get into position for a determined catch and drive from a lineout on the five metre line. Determined defence, however, resisted the Saracens’ pack and eventually Masson broke away from the maul and with Keogh in support eased the pressure.
Finally, with three minutes of the half remaining, Tom Guest’s break with Phil Davies in support and a final pass saw Olly Kohn score under the posts. Jarvis duly added the conversion and at half-time Quins led by 20 – 5.
After the interval Quins made two substitutions, Pointing replacing Croall and Heeks for So’oialo who had been sharp and inventive. Another series of penalties to Saracens for offences at the breakdown sparked the visitors to attack as they moved the ball quickly from a lineout in Quins’ twenty-two. An outrageously large dummy was sold by Goode and accepted by Nebbett as the Saracens’ centre went through the gap for the try. Owens added the conversion for 20 – 12.
Quins’ response was immediate as they applied pressure deep in the Saracens’ twenty-two. An attacking lineout was followed by a scrum and then the ball went along the line of backs on the right wing where Stegmann found himself as the final man in the overlap and went over in the corner for the try. Jarvis succeeded with the difficult conversion to regain the fifteen point advantage after seven minutes of the second half.
Changes in personnel on the Saracens side seemed to add impetus to their efforts. Heeks lost the ball at the base of a scrum, his opposing scrum half having taken advantage of a slow disposal. Possession was turned over allowing gaps in the Quins’ defence and Cato duly benefited, taking the opportunity to carve through and score. Owens added the conversion.
Quins substituted Jarvis and Keogh with Manyika and Amesbury and again tried to exert pressure on the Saracens’ line. A penalty led to a five-metre lineout but the throw went astray. Another lineout led to a catch and drive but the ball was knocked on. A series of such lineouts eventually produced what appeared to be a successful catch and drive over the line, but the referee adjudged the ball to be held up.
With fifteen minutes remaining Guest and Nebbett were withdrawn and Robson and Lambert came on. Frenzied attempts by Quins to force an opening ended when they were penalised for holding on in the tackle. Saracens recovered possession and in turn began to attack.
Only the most devastatingly perfect tackle from Ryan Manyika, by far the smallest person on the pitch, prevented a certain try as he stopped dead the Saracens’ centre on the line. But in fact the effort was in vain as Saracens managed to move the ball out of the maul and a fortuitous deflection put Cato in space for an easy try. Owens succeeded with the conversion, bringing Saracens to within a single point.
With only some eight or nine minutes remaining Quins set about trying to score again and after getting a penalty on the Saracens’ ten metre line, Jewell drove the ball deep into touch inside the twenty-two. A catch and drive failed with a knock-on and a second one was eventually broken up and stopped by the defence. Amesbury just failed to gather an excellent cross kick to the left wing.
Then for almost the final three minutes the referee presided over a series of resets to a scrum which eventually resulted in the final whistle reached without the scrum concluding and a Saracens’ prop carried off on a stretcher after being left motionless on the pitch following the final collapse of the scrum.
Final Score Harlequins A 27-26 Saracens A
A few minutes later, with Quins on the attack, they attempted a quick tap penalty, but when called back because Saracens were not back 10 metres and no advantage had accrued, Jarvis opted to have some kicking practice and duly made the score 3 – 5.
Harlequins now began to try to increase the pace of their attacks but were not able to break away. A fine run ended when Stegmann was bundled into touch, but the next thrust produced a penalty which Jarvis kicked to touch deep in the opposition twenty-two. From the lineout a catch and drive rumbled inexorably over the Saracens’ line where Phil Davies touched down for the try. Jarvis’ conversion from wide out on the left was successful and put Quins into the lead 10 – 5.
Quins were beginning to show some invention in attack. A marvellously subtle inside pass from Masson for Guest almost put the latter in for a try until uncharacteristically he hesitated when only ten metres out and lost the ball forward as he tried to evade a tackle. Crossing, accidental offside and other unnecessary errors halted attacks and further pressure ended in penalties to Saracens. After twenty-five minutes, a penalty forty metres from the posts offered Jarvis further practice and again he made no mistake increasing the lead to 13 – 5.
Quins were giving away needless penalties and two in quick succession allowed Saracens to get into position for a determined catch and drive from a lineout on the five metre line. Determined defence, however, resisted the Saracens’ pack and eventually Masson broke away from the maul and with Keogh in support eased the pressure.
Finally, with three minutes of the half remaining, Tom Guest’s break with Phil Davies in support and a final pass saw Olly Kohn score under the posts. Jarvis duly added the conversion and at half-time Quins led by 20 – 5.
After the interval Quins made two substitutions, Pointing replacing Croall and Heeks for So’oialo who had been sharp and inventive. Another series of penalties to Saracens for offences at the breakdown sparked the visitors to attack as they moved the ball quickly from a lineout in Quins’ twenty-two. An outrageously large dummy was sold by Goode and accepted by Nebbett as the Saracens’ centre went through the gap for the try. Owens added the conversion for 20 – 12.
Quins’ response was immediate as they applied pressure deep in the Saracens’ twenty-two. An attacking lineout was followed by a scrum and then the ball went along the line of backs on the right wing where Stegmann found himself as the final man in the overlap and went over in the corner for the try. Jarvis succeeded with the difficult conversion to regain the fifteen point advantage after seven minutes of the second half.
Changes in personnel on the Saracens side seemed to add impetus to their efforts. Heeks lost the ball at the base of a scrum, his opposing scrum half having taken advantage of a slow disposal. Possession was turned over allowing gaps in the Quins’ defence and Cato duly benefited, taking the opportunity to carve through and score. Owens added the conversion.
Quins substituted Jarvis and Keogh with Manyika and Amesbury and again tried to exert pressure on the Saracens’ line. A penalty led to a five-metre lineout but the throw went astray. Another lineout led to a catch and drive but the ball was knocked on. A series of such lineouts eventually produced what appeared to be a successful catch and drive over the line, but the referee adjudged the ball to be held up.
With fifteen minutes remaining Guest and Nebbett were withdrawn and Robson and Lambert came on. Frenzied attempts by Quins to force an opening ended when they were penalised for holding on in the tackle. Saracens recovered possession and in turn began to attack.
Only the most devastatingly perfect tackle from Ryan Manyika, by far the smallest person on the pitch, prevented a certain try as he stopped dead the Saracens’ centre on the line. But in fact the effort was in vain as Saracens managed to move the ball out of the maul and a fortuitous deflection put Cato in space for an easy try. Owens succeeded with the conversion, bringing Saracens to within a single point.
With only some eight or nine minutes remaining Quins set about trying to score again and after getting a penalty on the Saracens’ ten metre line, Jewell drove the ball deep into touch inside the twenty-two. A catch and drive failed with a knock-on and a second one was eventually broken up and stopped by the defence. Amesbury just failed to gather an excellent cross kick to the left wing.
Then for almost the final three minutes the referee presided over a series of resets to a scrum which eventually resulted in the final whistle reached without the scrum concluding and a Saracens’ prop carried off on a stretcher after being left motionless on the pitch following the final collapse of the scrum.
Final Score Harlequins A 27-26 Saracens A
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponRelated Articles:
More Harlequins headlines
- The Rugby Against Hunger tournament in Toulouse
- Summer Observations
- Lots of International Quins
- Leicester Tigers 31-28 Harlequins
- Preview: Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
- Scotty Speaks – out of retirement one final time!!
- TONIGHT: Rosslyn Park London Floodlit 7s
- Mark Evans: State of the Union Address
- May 2008 at Harlequins
Harlequins latest threads
Harlequins Poll
