Errors abounded on both sides from the start. Passes were going far astray and the referee’s whistle was shrilly marking the lack of discipline on both sides at the breakdowns.  Two successive penalties took Irish into an attacking lineout position and a catch and drive almost brought a try, but was held up over the line.  From the scrum that followed, Irish were able to exert considerable pressure on the Quins’ line and finally they were able to move the ball quickly left for Jeremy Staunton to score.  Hickey converted and after eleven minutes Irish led 7 – 0. 

Quins’ response was almost instant.  They gained a scrum from a knock on at the restart and a penalty for an offence in the scrum. So’oialo took the quick tap and the ball came quickly left to Sam Smith who eluded a couple of would-be tacklers to cross for the try.  An excellent kick by Seb Jewell from wide out levelled the score.

The Exiles’ reply was almost quicker than had been Quins’ previously.  From the restart the ball fell to former Harlequin Academy winger, Adam Thompstone.   He took off at speed and evaded the tackle of Charlie Amesbury to run in another Irish try which Hickey converted and after fourteen minutes the home side led by 14 – 7.

The next score took longer and another ten minutes elapsed until, following a series of penalties and a yellow card for the lock, Johnson, for killing the ball, Seb Jewell kicked the goal to reduce the lead to 14 – 10.  That completed the scoring for the first half that contained nothing further of note except an inevitable, bad tempered punch-up in the forwards that resulted in a yellow card for Dan Frazier. 

Only a couple of minutes into the second half a couple of missed passes combined with a lucky bounce off a Quins player allowed the Irish forwards to collect the ball and Johnson to cross for a try.  Staunton added the conversion and the lead stretched to 21 – 10. 

Quins had no sooner returned to playing with fifteen men then another yellow card, this time for Tom Sargeant for an offence on the floor at a ruck, reduced their numbers again. Once again Irish were able to take advantage of the extra man and Mackie exploited the gap in the Quins defence for Irish’s bonus point try.  Stevenson,, on for Staunton, added the conversion and extended the lead to 28 – 10 

Time was running out on Quins, but they managed to add two tries to their score to reduce the arrears.  The first, by George Lowe, followed a good combination between forwards and backs for the centre to score in the right corner.  Jewell’s conversion attempt slid wide in the wind.  The second was also scored by Lowe who intercepted an Irish pass in his own half and raced away over sixty metres to score under the posts;.  Manyika, kicking hurriedly in the face of the Irish rush, was fortunate to see his conversion kick succeed off the left hand post.

With the score now 28 – 22, Quins attempted to take quick advantage of a penalty in the Irish half and Amesbury was away and almost clear for the try when the referee called play back to administer a lecture to one of the Irish locks.  That was the last chance that Quins had to win.   There was one last twist in the tail as Irish deprived Quins of the losing bonus point when Gower intercepted Manika’s pass for a try that mirrored Lowe’s interception.  The conversion brought the final score to 35 – 22.

Speaking after the game, Academy Manager Collin Osborne was not too unhappy with the result, pointing out that he had not met nine players out of the Quins twenty-two!  These matches were not just about winning the A League, although that would be good.  It is a tool that allowed the coaches to watch the Academy youngsters and teach them.  In that respect this had been a useful match.  It allowed players to put their hands up with performances that had been watched by the Director of Rugby and the senior coaches.   There had been a number of good performances including George Robson and Seb Jewell. 

TEAMS 

LONDON IRISH A: 15. Jeremy Staunton*; 14. Adam Thompstone; 13. Bryan Rennie; 12. Nils Mordt; 11. Topsy Ojo; 10. Eoghan Hickey; 9. Warren Fury; 1. Alex Corbisiero; 2. Stuart Mackie, 3. Tom Warren; 4. Gary Johnson; 5. Bradley Mockford; 6. Aidan McCullen*; 7. Matt Donnelly; 8. Jon Fisher.
Replacements: 16. Tom Standfield; 17. James Clark; 18. Luke Cudmore; 19. James Lumby; 20. Tim Cronin; 21. Charlie Gower; 22. Ben Stevenson 

HARLEQUINS A:  15. Charlie Amesbury, 14.Seb Stegmann, 13.George Lowe, 12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. Sam Smith, 10. Seb Jewell, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. John Brooks, 2. Chris Brooker, 3. Dan Frazier, 4. George Robson, 5. Alex Ayling, 6. Micky Pointing, 7. Tom Sargeant, 8. Richard Redman
Replacements: 16. James Johnson, 17. Dorian Williams, 18. Ollie Kohn, 19. AN Other, 20. Matthew Heeks, 21. Ryan Manyika, 22. Toby Guyett

Referee: B. Robertson

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• January 2008 at Harlequins

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