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Harlequins vs London Welsh - Match Report


Mike Brown for first try

By Bedfordshire Boy
October 5 2014

Something to cheer at last 


Set out today at 12.45 in the rain, had hoped the rain would have passed through by now. Plenty to contemplate on the journey around the M25 (not least, where are the hold ups today); can we ever again match the intensity seen in last nights Bath v Sarries game, what are the chances of ending the match with two fit centres, is Nev really fit, will the rain spoil our chances of a good win (starting to doubt my prediction score now), are we really as bad as our current form seems to show? 

Two years ago we were all relishing this fixture, but with our current (lack of) form, many of us are feeling somewhat nervous. We cannot really lose against L Welsh at home, can we? 

Got to the ground at 2.15, made good time considering the weather, looks as though the worst of the rain has passed through, pitch looks in good nick (surprising what a summer without RL can do), touched base with a few like souls and all set for kick off. 
Hooray for a decent MC again, crowd looked a bit disappointing but once that everybody was seated, I guess there must have been 13000+ in attendance. Anyway, what about the match: 

Just 3 minutes into the game, some good forward work and clever play from the backs, Mike Brown scores a well worked try and Nev seems to have brought his kicking boots with him this week, 7 - 0. 

Got a bit incensed when it seemed as though Yarde was taken out in the air, he certainly went down like a ton of bricks, but looking at the replay it was very much a 50:50 ball. After 12 minutes a lovely break by Tiks led to a walk in score for DC with Nev adding the extras, 14 - 0, Quins scoring points at last! 

Penalty for Welsh in a very kickable position, first chance for some points but turned down in favour of a kick to the corner, line out won and another Welsh penalty, another kick to the corner but the ball turned over. Quins attack with Mike Brown being obstructed, penalty Quins easily converted by Nev, 17 - 0 after 23 minutes coincident with an appearance of the sun. 

Welsh still trying to play an open game, not convinced these are the right tactics against Quins. Captain Marler off after 26 minutes for a concussion check, replaced by the ever reliable Mark Lambert. Looks like JK has been spending a lot of time with the forwards during the week or is it just that Welsh are so bad (Welsh scrum is a shambles)? Marler back on after 32 minutes, Welsh ball management is appalling, very Quins-like. Welsh turn down yet another kickable penalty on 39 minutes, yet again peters out to nothing, so first half finishes 17 - 0 to Quins, a fair reflection of the half with Quins starting off very brightly but tailing off as the half wore on. 
Not sure what the half time "entertainment" was all about, couldn`t hear a word of what was being said! 

Will Collier replaced Sinkler for the second half. Loose kick by Barkley (not at all impressed with his performance) gathered by Mike Brown who makes 40m gliding through half of the Welsh team to ship the ball to Yarde who is over the line for a score within 30 seconds of the start, Nev did his best to fluff the conversion but it went over despite his efforts, 24 - 0. Welsh players in front of the restart kick so scrum to Quins in the centre, the Welsh scrum is being marmalised! 

Next Quins score 5 minutes later, great break by Nev puts Hopper over for an easy score with the extra 2 points coming from Nev`s boot. Botica replaced Casson, injury or tactical? 

Welsh still turning down kickable penalties but a solid Quins defence is still keeping them at bay. Marler and Care replaced by Lambert and Dickson afetr 53 minutes followed a bit later by Ward replacing Grey, play getting very scrappy, good to see that Botica can run a straight line instead of crabbing across the field. Welsh replacement prop (Jack Gilding I think) seemed to get his body position completely wrong during a tackle on Yarde and was stretched out for 5 minutes or more, never good to see the stretcher and oxygen brought onto the field, must say that Vea didn`t look too happy with having to return to the field for more punishment.

Quins looking a bit livelier again with some good play resulting in Dickson being felled by a standard "South Sea Islands" tackle, yellow card and a penalty try, 38 - 0 after 65 minutes. Some great play by Mike Brown, breaking tackles again, great chip ahead gathered by Dickson for an easy score under the posts, 45 - 0. 

Have missed a few Quins replacements (unlike my wife I cannot multi-task) but Mike Brown, my Man Of The Match, replaced by OLH on 70 minutes. Quins cruising now and a bit of classic Quins play led to a well taken try by Yarde after 78 minutes. Somewhere here, Collier and his opposite number were invited to take a 10 minute rest for messing around in the front row and stand in captain Chris Robshaw was subbed to allow Sinkler back on the field. 

Final score, Quins 52, L Welsh 0. 

What did I learn from that? 

First and foremost L Welsh are definitely not playing anything like premiership standard rugby, Championship play-off system really does need to be looked at. 
Encouraging performance by Quins but we shouldn`t get carried away by this result - having said that good performances by Mike Brown (no surprise there), Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Nev and Joe Marler. Also pleased with Botica, running straight lines and looking after the ball well, generally a good team performance but difficult to judge against a very poor L Welsh side. 

Crowd not as vociferous as they can be and we are still plagued by the continual trips to the bar/toilets regularly throughout games; stand up you know who you are (on second thoughts better stay seated or I will miss even more of the play!). 

Thoughts on the way home around the M25; Quins are still a mile away from the Bath, Sarries, Saints level, I think the centre change was tactical and hopefully George Lowe will soon be back playing in the quarters, Nev certainly seemed fit and had a lot of his old flair back as well as his kicking boots, luckily the rain did not affect the match and Quins are not a million miles away from contesting that fourth spot. As COS commented post match, we are in a better place than we were this time last year. 

As a matter of interest, my prediction was Quins 33, L Welsh 17, shows you what I know.

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Harlequins vs London Welsh - Match Report
Discussion started by ComeAllWithin.co.uk , 05/10/2014 12:00
ComeAllWithin.co.uk
05/10/2014 12:00
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QuickerQuin
05/10/2014 13:11
"Nev did his best to fluff the conversion but it went over despite his efforts",

Is that meant to be humour, sarcasm, irony, criticism, or what?

Because I don't find it the least bit amusing. Nev tried hard and was successful with all his kicks.

Bedfordshire Boy
05/10/2014 13:23
An attempt at humour which in your mind failed miserably. That particular kick he caught all wrong and he was a bit lucky for it to clear the bar IMHO, otherwise his kicking from the tee was immaculate.

DOK.
05/10/2014 16:32
I thought it quite amusing DB. It WAS a Godawful kick, which somehow conspired to go over. smiling smiley

Quinten Poulsen
05/10/2014 16:36
Quote:
Duncan Beaumont
"Nev did his best to fluff the conversion but it went over despite his efforts",
Is that meant to be humour, sarcasm, irony, criticism, or what?

Because I don't find it the least bit amusing. Nev tried hard and was successful with all his kicks.

Wow!

woe quin
05/10/2014 21:17
I was in the South stand watching that kick and you got it to spot on BB , that kick was completely fluffed and didn't deserve to struggle over like it did
NEV strike rate 100% yesterday but mainly conversions from under or near the posts - helps the season average though

fandg2
06/10/2014 08:53
"and we are still plagued by the continual trips to the bar/toilets regularly throughout games".

6 times I had to move to let someone past to get out and 5 times to get in and always the same 'character'!! Can't imagine why he bothered to come to the game in the first place.

QuickerQuin
06/10/2014 09:32
Quote:
fandg2
"and we are still plagued by the continual trips to the bar/toilets regularly throughout games".
6 times I had to move to let someone past to get out and 5 times to get in and always the same 'character'!! Can't imagine why he bothered to come to the game in the first place.

Obviously the remarks you made to him as he went for the sixth time were deeply wounding and he didn't come back!

;-)

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