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Harlequin Amateurs 37-5 Upper Clapton
By Charlie Allen
February 5 2008
Saturday 17th November 2007, Middlesex Cup. Harlequin Amateurs were looking to bounce back with a strong performance in the Middlesex Cup having been knocked out of the national cup competition. The opposition, Upper Clapton, had travelled from Essex to play in the competition, and were a relatively unknown quantity for the Amateurs.

The game got underway with both sides showing attackingintent and good defensive capabilities. The away-side used their bulk in thepack to put the Amateurs under significant pressure in the scrums and brokenplay. The pressure resulted in the Amateurs being camped on their own line forsignificant amounts of time.

Throughout the first half, quick line-outs were theorder of the day for the Amateurs, resulting in a series of effective attackingplays that culminated in Nick Marren scoring an excellent try in the corner.This was followed by Russell Wiggington scampering over from short range.

The second half arrived, and the Amateurs took thegame to the opposition using the slope and wind to their advantage. However, theUpper Clapton winger broke through for a clean break from the halfway. Whatlooked like a certain try was foiled by the flying James Hodgson, tracking backfrom the far side of the pitch. He made an excellent try saving tackle on thewinger on the Amateurs five metre line and then cleared the lines.

With increasingly heated exchanges taking place, theAmateurs found themselves down to 14 men on two occasions. With tempers flaringon both sides, the boot of James Loizos was called upon to quieten things down,and he duly slotted home the penalty attempt.

Other highlights of this half included the mazy runof Chris Salter from just outside his own 22, covering the whole length of thepitch, weaving in and out of opposition tackles to score under the posts. Thiswas a strong performance by the Amateurs who will look to carry this form intothe next round of the Cup and in the League as well.

Forwards: Chris Payne, Charlie Allen (60Toby Douglas), Ian Overd (55 Ian Stone), Jonny Sycamore, Ed Lea, HamishMoffett, Toby Douglas (60 James Rice), Ben Van Rensburg

Backs: Russell Wiggington (55 JoeHannaford), Gary McCarthy, Nick Marren, Tom Laidler, Emmett Murphy, JamesHodgson, Bruce Uglow (60 Chris Salter)

Tries – Marren, Wiggington, Uglow,Hodgson, Salter, Murphy

Conversion – McCarthy (1), Loizos(1)

Penalties – Loizos (1)

The Standard Tandoori Man-of-the-Match: Ben VanRensburg

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Harlequin Amateurs 37-5 Upper Clapton
Posted by: ComeAllWithin.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 05/02/2008 23:48

Harlequin Amateurs 37-5 Upper Clapton

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