Before this match both teams were very much on equal terms, In the Zurich Premiership on points and games played, yet Bristol were eighth, one place above Harlequins, due to points difference. Over 22 previous meetings both teams had won 11 matches each. In addition Quins were seeking their sixth consecutive league win at home whilst Bristol their sixth Premiership win in a row.

Quins made two changes to the team that lost against Bath last week. Jon Dawson wearing the No.3 shirt in place of the injured Laurent Gomez who fractured his leg in a training accident on New Year's Eve, and Ace Tiatia to replace Pat Sanderson who has a shoulder injury. Bristol made just one change with David Rees coming in for the injured Phil Christophers.

A large crowd of over 7,000 filled the Stoop on a cold, crisp, but sunny, midwinter’s’ afternoon and saw the home side, on balance win, a deserved victory.

 
A sunny afternoon at the Stoop (pic: Binky)

This was despite a very spirited fight back from the Shoguns in the second half, which stalled when former Harlequin Brendon Daniel made a disastrous error of judgement on 28 minutes following a chip through by Greenwood.

The match, from Quins point of view started, very much like many of the recent games we have played. Paul Burke opened the scoring on 6 minutes from a penalty kick some 25 metres out. (3-0) Quins maintained the pressure with a number of good moves, and some competent passing across the field, but they we unable to convert that pressure into any points. Then as recent history continued to repeat itself, a wayward pass from Greenwood proved costly as David Rees gratefully scooped up the ball and ran 70 metres up field to score Bristol’ first try on ten minutes. Contepomi, failed to convert (3-5). From the kick off Quins stole the ball and built up an attack, which broke down by the 5 metre line. Contepomi’s afternoon, which had begun badly suddenly became much worse as he was sin binned for killing the ball after just 10 minutes of play.

Leyshon in control (Simon Jones)

The resultant penalty was kicked across field hoping to catch the Bristol defence napping but unfortunately the kick was not picked up in time and went out of play. Quins continued to pile on the pressure, with some good play, against the depleted Shoguns but were unable to push home their advantage. On 17 minutes Quins were awarded another penalty right on the half way line from which Burke ably scored (6-5). Quins continued to reassert their authority with some good moves from Davison, Luger and Vos. Following a scrum Ace managed to steal the ball which set up a pressurised passage of play which once more was to no avail following a poor pass from Williams to Luger and the ball went out of play.

On 26 minutes, Gollings replaced Rob Jewell. Jewell had earlier received a stamp on the knee followed a few minutes later by a dead leg, and was no longer able to continue, much to his fury. With Contepomi back on the pitch the advantage was gone, but Quins were still in the driving seat with much more possession, but not doing much with it.

Quins Indecision (Binky)

Codling was having a huge game stealing and spoiling the ball in the Bristol line outs, and in the scrums the Bristol pack was being pushed with Dawson teaching Sheridan how to be a tight head prop.

Greenwood intercepted a kick by Contepomi and Burke picked up the ball and charged up field before passing back to Greenwood back to Burke and then inside to Gollings who scored under the posts on 35 minutes. Burke converted to give Harlequins a deserved 13-5 lead. On 38 minutes Bristol had an opportunity to claw back 3 points but Contepomi missed as the kick went wide. On 40 minutes Bristol put a good set of passes together only for Daniel to miss the ball. His frustration was clearly visible.

With no further score Quins went in 13 – 5 ahead at the break. It could have been more and we certainly should have put the match beyond doubt in the first half.

Bristol were not about to give up without a fight, and as the second half started the Shoguns immediately started to apply pressure.

(Binky)

On 3 minutes Chris Morgan came on for Bristol and Bell went off with Satala coming on as a blood replacement. Bristol continued to test the Quins defence as they pushed forward, with Satala not looking very comfortable in the cold conditions. Diprose did some fine defending culminating in an excellent kick to touch does he see a future as a fullback? The Bristol pressure continued and despite a spirited final defence by Williams and Burke they were unable to prevent Gibson going over for a try (13-10), on 50 minutes, which was converted by Contepomi, (13-12). Burke, four minutes later missed a further penalty to Quins. On 56 minutes Bell was back on, and yet another penalty to Quins a minute later saw Burke push the score to 16-12.

Quins were still not safe. The Bristol fight back continued and with the home side in disarray Rees was allowed to go over for his second try of the afternoon which saw Bristol re take the lead. Contepomi's awful afternoon continued with another missed conversion (16-17).

Sun setting on Contepomi? (Binky)

Davison, who excelled in the first half, was substituted on 72 minutes by Jim Evans. Burke reclaimed the lead a minute later with another 3 points kicked from the halfway line (19-17).

Quins now began to get their attacking game back together. Greenwood saw an opening and chipped into the open space. Daniel chased after the ball and it looked that he would regain possession but the final bounce of the ball beat him. Greenwood who had continued to follow up pounced on the loose ball.(24-17). Burke converted (26-17) on 69 minutes.

From the restart Evans was on the receiving end of a very high tackle from Gareth Archer who, after Leyshon had consulted with the linesman, and the East Stand Crowd “baying for blood”, became the second yellow card of the afternoon. Daniel was subsequently substituted by another Quins exile Jamie Williams.

With the Shoguns back down to 14 men and still reeling from that Daniel fumble it was effectively the end of the game. Quins made one final push with Leonard finding himself back out on the wing.

Leonard, out-of-position, considers joining a maul (Simon Jones)

Bristol counter attacked for the last time desperate to salvage a point but to no avail. The final whistle went with the four points and a sixth home victory to Quins.

At the press conference following the match a buoyant Mark Evans was asked how pleased was with the performance, given that Quins could obviously have scored more points.

He was pleased at the way we played in the first half very, but unhappy with our finishing of the chances we d been given. He added that we have been struggling in recent weeks to break down opposition defences, against Bath and Stade Francais “Who are a very good side”. The team had worked hard this week to get the momentum of our game going again. He picked up on the issue that is covered in the December's Player of the Month, regarding the lack of tries. ”We went through a patch of scoring 19 tries in seven matches but this had dried up in last month. Although our play was more fluid today with more momentum to our play we created a number of opportunities in the first half, but scored only once”.

Set piece was tremendous, and Evans said that John Kingston takes a huge amount of credit for this. We took their line out apart which is a big part of Bristol’s game. JK with his “two faithful lieutenants Codling and Winters have been working hard working on this and today it paid huge dividends. Johnstone did not know where to throw the ball, because of our steals. It was not the hooker’s fault, it was down to the homework we’d done, however our line out was not what it could have been.

Not what it could have been  (Binky)

He went on to praise a number of other players. Vos had a big game today and there was also praise for Jon Dawson, whom Evans has been for the past five years.” You don t get many tight head props in their early twenties, it is a very difficult position to play”. Gomez had not missed a game all season, but due to his broken leg, Dawson had done enough to win his place today over Cardinali.

Duncombe played better today, he was sharper and fresher. He has only started three matches this season, and as halfback today he gave more direction put shape on the game.

Burke also had a good game with that excellent pass to Gollings. Evans, agreed that Luger was much more enthusiastic today getting on with the “unglamorous” side of the game. Such physical action so close to coming back after a major operation was to be applauded.

Evans was then asked “How are you going to deal with two weeks off” “Fantastic” came an instant reply. He went on to say that Quins, like the other Premiership sides had just had 19 weekends on the trot. He included the away game at Bristol as all the preparation had been done. The break is a great opportunity to get those players with knocks back to full fitness. He then surprised the conference by stating that Diprose has been nursing an ankle injury for the last six weeks, well you wouldn’t know it! Dippy is quoted as saying “it will be nice to play on two legs again”

Over the next few weeks Quins will review the way they’ve played and make adjustments, Evans added I’d like to still be in the Parker Pen Cup, but we will use what we’ve got.

A clearly less than happy Peter Thorburn was asked of his teams performance.” We stuffed ourselves in the first half”. Credit went to Quins who read our line outs very well. “We were not good enough on the day to beat them”. He did not blame Daniel for the try, as he had a difficult choice to know what to do.

He added that Bristol had drifted off their game, and was very concerned that they played twenty minutes of the match with one man down. Thorburn was very unhappy about the inconsistency of the referee “I don t know why we accumulate yellow cards more than any one else. I know it looks like sour grapes, but so much illegality goes on in the breakdown, it is far more prevalent in England”. He continued “If we were wrong we expect to be penalised, but they’ve got to sort it out” .The statistics in the match day programme show that Steve Leyshon is currently averaging two yellow cards a match this season.

An excellent start to the New Year for Harlequins, and with other results going our way we have bounced back up to seventh place in the Premiership. This was a game that both sides wanted to win and I know the Bristol supporters must have had a long journey home. I’m looking forward to the postponed return match, date still to be decided, as I m sure that too will be an equally entertaining and exciting game.

We now have three weeks to prepare for our Powergen Cup match, with Leicester. Following Evans post match comments this game has a lot of promise, but we need to ensure that we are fully prepared, and this breathing space is just what we need.

Breathing Space (Binky)

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon