By Bedfordshire Boy
May 11 2015
Travelled to the game not expecting Quins to get too much out of this one, usual area of concern being the front rows, compare Lambert/Ward/Shields with James/Batty/Wilson, but more tellingly, Marfo/Buchanan/Adeniran-Olule with Webber/Auterac/Lahif. Essentially this evening was all about the send off for George Robson and Ugo Monye as thanks for nearly 25 years service to the cause between them.
As the M25 was very kind, especially for a Friday night, arrived at the ground with time to spare and was able to collect my tickets for the Falcons game from the Quinssa Stand. Pitch looked in good condition, as did the players, so as usual started to feel a bit more confident as kick off time approached although still thought that my prediction of 15 - 25 would not be too far off the mark. Mind you, if the predictions for the General Election was anything to go by, anything was possible. Great reception for Ugo as he headed onto the pitch ahead of the rest of the team, an impeccably respected one minute silence in memory of 70th anniversary of VE Day and we were all set to go in pretty much a completely full stadium.
Quins declared their intent from the start, extremely quick to attack the Bath line whenever they had the ball, tigerish in defence and ran the ball at every opportunity, this is what we pay our entrance fee to see. A clash of heads saw Nick Easter replaced by Charlie Matthews shortly followed by a fantastic break my Marland Yarde who passed to Danny Care on the Bath 22 only for DC to appear to turn into the chasing Bath defence and being hauled down 5 m short rather than going balls out for the line. Never fear, Quins recycled the ball, pass to Evans who shipped a long pass to Ugo on the left wing who went in for the first score in the corner; to say that the place erupted is an understatement! Conversion missed by Nev, I don`t suppose anyone thought at the time that if the conversion had gone over, we would have won the match.
Almost from the restart Bath were awarded a line out, formed a rolling maul which eventually led to a penalty for Bath 5 m out after the maul was brought down by Jack Clifford who was awarded a yellow card for his efforts. I found this a bit puzzling as Quins stood back from the line out and there did not appear to be any contact with a Bath player before the maul commenced , obviously another law that I do not fully understand. Bath elected for a scrum in which Shields went down, another penalty, same result followed by two further scrums that had to be reset. Quins were awarded a penalty during the fifth scrum and managed to clear their line. That phase of play is one of the areas that I find most frustrating in the modern game where the scrum is used as a means of getting a penalty, often a penalty try as well as the defending side losing players to the sin bin. In this case, Harry Sloan had joined the scrum leaving Quins one man short in the backs facing an "all international" Bath back line who surely would have picked up seven points if they had done the simple thing and shifted the ball from the scrum. It also had the advantage for Quins of using up about 4 minutes of Cliffords time in the bin. Eventually Bath were awarded a penalty just inside the Quins half for Quins not rolling away which Ford duly converted, 5 - 3.
Jack Clifford back on the field but even he couldn`t keep out a well taken try by Louwe following a strong run by Houston, a straightforward kick by Ford put a new look to the score, 5 - 10 and the penalty count against Quins staring to become a worry. Bath looking stronger and stronger but Quins still running at every opportunity; a charge down by Quins brought play back into the Bath 22, penalty Quins, kick ignored and play again brought to a standstill when Atwood kicked the ball out of Cares hands, a yellow perhaps but Mr Garner not interested, 3 points added by Nev, 8 -10 after 29 minutes. From the kick off Quins set up a rolling maul and as Wallace breaks free he is upended by Atwood, probably looked worse than it was but I thought that it was at least worth a look by the referee, leading to Wallace going off for assessment and being replaced by Talei. Quins have their tails up now, break by Clifford from a Quins scrum set up a rampaging run by Robshaw and play breaks down when Wilson blocks the Quins attack from an offside position, penalty only awarded by the referee. A good spell by Quins, another penalty for Quins and at long last the referee speaks to Bath. Line out for Quins 15m out, rolling maul, penalty Quins but continue to drive over the line; penalty try to Quins but no yellow card, Bath very very lucky. Conversion points added by Nev, 15 - 10. Just before half time whistle, Wallace back on but Robson off (replaced by Talei) as Quins safely see out the couple of minutes to the break, all in all, not a bad first half for Quins.
Bath started the second half at pace and within two minutes of the kick off Aguila crossed the line for a well taken try following a line out although questions could be asked of the Quins defence, Ford added the extras and Bath were back in front 15 - 17 after 43 minutes. I thought it was quite noticeable that Bath were playing more of a territory game at the start of the second half. On 47 minutes Wilson replaced by Lahiff and Marfo on for Lambert. Speculative kick by OLH into Bath territory bounces awkwardly for the Bath defence and OLH is millimetres away from gathering his own kick with an easy run in for a score, nonetheless Ugo Monye gathers the ball and sets George Lowe on a sprint for the Bath line but he is brought down by an excellent cover tackle from Banahan 5 m short. Another Quins attack breaks down 10 m out from the Bath line, penalty Quins and this time Quins take the 3 points on offer, 18 - 17 after 51 minutes. A period of sustained pressure from Quins, another penalty Quins and another 3 points from Nevs boot, 21 - 17 on 54 minutes. Webber on for Batty and Bath back on the attack and following some adept juggling skills, Houston eventually went over for a try, Ford added the extra points, 21 - 24 after 58 minutes. Quins were straight back onto the attack, keeping Bath pinned in their 22, Bath turned over leaving Jack Clifford to demonstrate his handling skills to get the ball out to Ugo who went on to beat Joseph and Watson for an absolutely brilliant try in the corner. The stadium really erupted this time and Quins were back in front, sadly Nev missed the conversion, the second kick that could have won the game, just goes to show how close the game was, 26 - 24, 20 minutes to go. Home crowd really playing their part now and the team responding well, late cavalry on for Bath, a really great game of rugby.
On 68 minutes, the magical moment of the night when Ugo was substituted, we have said goodbye to many Harlequin greats over the years but I have never witnessed anything like the farewell given to Ugo at The Stoop, absolutely phenomenal for a truly great, player, man and Harlequin. Walker on for Monye.
Both sides looking for the win with the play going from end to end and on 74 minutes a penalty to Bath within kicking range which Ford comfortably completes, 27 - 26. Botica on for Nev who looked a bit groggy and in the dying minutes, Shields replaced by youngster Seb Adeniran-Olule. Still anybodys game but Bath definitely turning the screw in the last minutes, Quins lack of strength in depth turning out to be crucial yet again.
No surprise for guessing the Man Of The Match, UGO MONYE!
So, what can we make of that? One thing for sure, if Quins played a few more games with this amount of commitment and passion we would certainly have been vying for a top four position and in my opinion, we are in a good place for next season with the new players joining the side. I think most of us wondered if we could ever replace Nick Easter, well step forward Jack Clifford, surely an England player of the future. Still very impressed with the Lowe/Sloan centre combination, Yarde will surely be knocking on Englands door for the RWC as will Danny Care. Ollie Lindsay-Hague is improving match after match and Charlie Walker still looking a great prospect, and just a word for Matt Shields who has had a torrid introduction to premiership rugby. Bath have put together a formidable squad and this win gives them a well deserved home advantage in the playoffs.
If Quins play the same sort of game next week, it will certainly make the long drive to Newcastle worthwhile.
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