That Quins won 27 – 24 was a bonus.

Matches such as this are never entirely satisfactory if only because they are almost always played with the teams at a stage of preparation in which combinations and moves are still in an early stage of training. Substitutes are used in excess of the normal numbers. Worse, this season there is the added problem of the dreaded Experimental Law Variations.  However, there was much to be pleased about in the performances on show. In particular there was good running and excellent handling and passing in tandem with determination and aggressive intent.

Despite a missed penalty attempt by Luveniyali in the second minute, it took only five minutes for the first try of the season as Ugo Monye received the ball just inside the Exiles’ half, broke clear of would-be tacklers and easily beat the full back to score.  Luveniyali missed with the conversion attempt.   Poor reception of the restart allowed Irish an attacking scrum and the pressure they were able to apply allowed Thorpe the space to score a try for the visitors.  Hewat missed with the conversion kick.  Ten minutes elapsed and the scores were again equal at 5 points each.

Quins were soon on the attack again.  Gomarsall produced an excellent clearing kick to find a good touch that pushed Irish deep into the twenty-two.  A certain amount of aerial ping-pong, product of the ELV’s, followed but only ceded possession to Quins.  Good passing and interchanging at speed along the left touchline between Tom Williams, Tiesi and Luveniyali put the latter into the corner for Quins’ second try after eighteen minutes.  Quins led 10 – 5 as the conversion attempt slipped wide.

Errors began to creep in on both sides, mainly as a result of trying too hard.  The visitors found themselves early victims to the ELV’s when a ball passed back into touch and kicked very long to touch deep in Quins’ territory was brought back for the lineout only ten metres from their own try-line.  Generally, Quins’ defence was good although they turned over ball too frequently in the rucks and the scrum was under pressure with the Irish prop, Corbisiero, causing John Brooks great problems.

A penalty for an offence at a ruck allowed Hewat to kick successfully from about 40 metres and from somewhat nearer a few minutes later giving the visitors a lead for the first time with a score of 10 – 11.  The first half was almost at an end when a penalty was awarded to Harlequins that Luveniyali slotted through the posts to regain the lead 13 – 11 as the half-time whistle blew.

Both sides made some substitutions at the interval with O’Connor and Guest replacing Kohn and Robshaw and Irish changing four of their players.  Quins were immediately on the attack and, with a rare lineout steal, moved the ball rapidly right to put Tom Williams into the corner.  Alas, the final pass was adjudged forward and the “try” disallowed.  Within a minute, however, Quins had scored again as an Irish clearance was charged down and Neil McMillan followed up to touch down for the try. Luveniyali added the conversion and Quins’ lead stretched to 20 –11 with only three minutes of the second half elapsed.

Almost immediate response saw Hewat take another three points with another successful penalty kick.  Then a dangerous fast break by Topsy Ojo, who had just appeared as a substitute, was stopped just short of the line.  Quins, however, were caught offside and Irish called a scrum just 5 metres from the Quins’ line.  Good pressure and quick handling put Gower over for a try converted easily by Hewat to regain the lead at 20 – 21 with thirty minutes remaining.

Nick Evans replaced Luveniyali and announced his presence with an enormously long kick to find an excellent touch.  Quins began to attack again with excellent inter-passing and handling.  Fine forward pressure saw a maul driven over the Exiles’ line but the ball was held up.  Once again it took only a couple of minutes to ensure the score and a fine kick through by Evans was collected by Quins’ forwards and a ruck set up. The ball came out via the industrious Gareth Williams, who had taken over from Gomarsall, to Nick Evans and is a group of players he was carried across the line to score and subsequently convert his own try to regain the lead as the final quarter began.

Mass substitutions on both sides changed the teams still more.  Quins withdrew Monye and Tom Williams and brought on Amesbury and Brown.  Quins were on the attack again as a kick through was fielded and carried over the Irish  try-line by Hewat.  But the resulting 5-metre set-piece was wasted as Quins were penalised for an offence at the scrum.  Mike Brown demonstrated his prowess under the high ball as he followed his own kick, which he caught, and felled Delon Armitage in the process.

With less than ten minutes remaining Hewat added another three points to the Irish score from a penalty right on the twenty-two line. Three minutes later he failed with one from 45 metres.  Quins continued to attack, to play exciting rugby with skill and panache and to defend staunchly in the face of the powerful and fast Irish runners.  As time ran out Irish had a penalty just inside the Quins half leaving Hewat with a 48 metre kick to draw the scores level.  He failed.  The whistle blew and a substantial crowd of Harlequin supporters went home satisfied and in hopeful anticipation of good things to come.

This was a thoroughly entertaining match. It makes next Saturday’s visit of Parma one to look forward to.

Teams:

HARLEQUINS
1 Ceri Jones, 2 Tani Fuga , 3 John Brooks , 4 Ollie Kohn , 5 George Robson, 6 Chris Robshaw , 7 Neil Mcmillan, 8 Nick Easter (Captain),  9 Andy Gomarsall , 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 11 Ugo Monye, 12 Epi Taione 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 14 David Strettle, 15 Tom Williams.
Substitutes: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Shane O'Connor, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Phil Davies, 21 Gareth Williams, 22 Charlie Amesbury, 23 Jordan Turner-Hall, 24 De Wet Barry, 25 Will Skinner, 26 Mike Brown, 27 Nick Evans.

LONDON IRISH  (SQUAD)

James Buckland, Bob Casey*, Alex Corbisiero, Danie Coetzee*, Declan Danaher, Chris Hala’Ufia*, James Hudson, Nick Kennedy, Gary Johnson, Dan Murphy, David Paice*, Faan Rautenbach*, Richard Skuse, Richard Thorpe. Delon Armitage, Mike Catt*, Charlie Gower, Peter Hewat, Paul Hodgson*, Seilala Mapusua*, Topsy Ojo*, Tom Parker, Elvis Sevealii*, Dominic Shabbo, Sailosi Tagicakibau*, Adam Thompstone.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

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