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The Cunningham Duncombe Series – Part 2


By Bedfordshire Boy
October 5 2015

Superb conditions once again for the second part of this two match series being played at my all time favourite away venue with Quins holding a 5 point advantage in the aggregate score. 

Irish kick off with lots of mistakes by both sides in an hectic first few minutes with the first scrum going to Irish. Following two scrum resets Irish are awarded a penalty, they kick to touch but lose the resulting lineout. Following some more loose play Quins are awarded a scrum but Dickson is penalised for a crooked feed (didn`t realise that you could get penalised for that!).  A quick penalty by Irish who get the ball over the Quins line but the ball is held up, scrum Irish. The first points of the game go to Irish after 10 minutes Topsy Ojo scores n the corner following a neat kick through by Noakes, conversion missed, 5 - 0. Quins starting to get their game together and a good attacking phase ended with Luke Wallace scoring in the corner with the conversion  points being added by Nev, 5 - 7 after 15 minutes. Have to say the scrums have been a mess compared to last week in almost identical conditions although different front rows and referee.

A good drive by Luamanu demonstrates exactly what he was brought in to do, this guy is going to be a crowd favourite. George Lowe playing well as is OLH on the wing, I think he looks more comfortable there than at fullback. Skivington off for Irish on 22 minutes followed by Quins being penalised yet again in the scrum resulting in 3 more points from the boot of Noakes for Irish, 8 - 7. Another attack by Quins results in  a penalty to Irish for Quins holding on, Irish clear to the 10m line but are penalised in the lineout and Quins pick up another 3 points from the boot of Evans, 8 - 10 after 27 minutes. Yet another reset scrum leads to a Quins penalty with Irish being marched back a further 10m for back chat. Evans kicks touch on Irish 22 and another break by Luamanu after the lineout results in a Quins penalty in front of the posts, conversion Evans, 8 - 13 on 31 minutes. More Quins pressure, penalty to Quins and Irish knock the ball over their dead ball line while trying to keep the ball from touch, 5 m scrum to Quins. Penalty to Quins from scrum and that man Luamanu pops up and drives over for a well taken try with the added points by Evans the Quins captain for the night, 8 - 20 after 37 minutes.

Quins were straight onto the attack in the second half and Wallace scored his second try after a good break by Yarde, 8 - 25 after 44 minutes. Some Irish changes including Narraway going off. A lineout steal by Quins, Quins now playing exceptionally well with line breaks and some great offloads, real vintage Quins. Clever kick through by Evans for Tim Swiel to chase down and score in the corner, conversion added by Evans, 8 - 32 on 48 minutes. Front row change by Quins with Lambert, Ward and Collier being replaced by Evans, Lambert and Sinkler as well as Matthews replacing Horwell and Hopper coming on (have to be honest, looking at my notes I am not sure who he replaced). These changes were shortly followed by Tebaldi replacing Dickson and the appearance of Gerhaghty replacing Noakes for Irish.

Gerhagthy making a difference to the Irish attack with some good attacking play with the Quins looking a bit disorganised following the changes. Evans and Luamanu replaced by Botica and Chisolm  on 56 minutes.  Another Irish attack well defended by Quins with ball held up over the line, scrum, free kick and eventually a penalty to Irish led to a converted try to Irish, 15 - 32 after 60 minutes. Some scrappy play not helped by some funny decisions by the referee with Narraway finding himself back on the field on 65 minutes replacing the number 7. Topsy Ojo replaced on 66 minutes followed by a well taken converted try by Lewington sprinting 40 metres to bring the score to 22 - 32. This seemed to wake Quins up again who then scored from a very untidy catch and drive, scored by Owen Evans although the stadium announcer didn`t seem to know, 23 - 37 after 70 minutes. Lowe and Matthews both down injured for a few minutes, and although Lowe played on, Matthews walked off to be replaced by Horwell on 75 minutes. Game restarted with a penalty to Irish who eventually scored a converted try through Leo Halavatau to bring the score to 29 - 37. With 4 minutes to go Sinkler yellow carded but Quins got control of the ball and ran the clock down to take a well deserved win.

A good all round display by Quins with many encouraging signs for the new season kicking off in a couple of weeks time. Twomey and Horwell again looked comfortable in the engine room and the lineout worked well which is more that can be said for the scrums, difficult to see what the problem was there as I know very little about the dark arts of the front row. It looks as though we are going to be blessed with talent in the back row with lively games by Luamanu, Wallace and Clifford soon to be supplemented by Talei, Robshaw and Easter. At 9 Dickson is looking very fit and Tebaldi has shown up well in this series with the return soon of Danny Care who should be chomping at the bit after not getting a run out with England so far in the RWC. Tim Swiel has looked comfortable at fullback and to my mind is a much better option in that position than Ollie Lyndsey-Hague. I like Lowe and Sloane as a centre pairing but the squad backs in general will look a lot stronger with the addition of Brown, Visser, Stanley and Roberts.

All in all a good evening of rugby which helps to counteract the woeful happenings the other side of the A316. 

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The Cunningham Duncombe Series – Part 2
Discussion started by ComeAllWithin.co.uk , 05/10/2015 12:33
ComeAllWithin.co.uk
05/10/2015 12:33
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