The final score of 7 – 45 ought to have been more had replacements, injuries and belated defence not prevented it.

Very simply London Irish were blown away by the speed, invention and penetration of the Harlequins as they ran in their first try in the second minute of the game and had scored six tries by half-time. From the kick-off Quins gained possession and Jarvis kick gained 50 metres and took play to the Irish twenty-two. Although Irish won the resulting lineout, the box kick from the scrum-half went straight into touch and left an attacking Quins line-out in the same place. From the lineout the ball came right to Amesbury who found Mike Brown at speed in the centre through an enormous gap in the defence to score under the posts. Jarvis added the conversion.

Irish attempted to rally and retaliate, but despite possession their attack was naïve and failed to use overlaps and the wide channels occasionally available which might have brought points. Quins always looked the more dangerous with ball in hand and had greater penetration. It was only likely to be a matter of time before they scored again and, after another ten minutes, an excellent break by Easter allowed Chris Robshaw to go clear through the defence and run in to score. Jarvis again converted, 0 – 14 after 15 minutes.

Quins might have had another try when a series of pick and drives by the forwards appeared to cross the line but they were called back for a knock-on just short of the line. The Exiles defence improved and they resisted the Quins’ attacks until the half-hour when after a series of penalties in the face of Quins’ pressure, Quins took a scrum in front of the posts. The ball went right and found Mike Brown again coming through to score his second try. Jarvis missed the conversion. 0 – 19 

Minutes later, Quins might have had another when a fine sweeping backs move saw Amesbury over the line but have the final pass adjudged to be forward. Only a minute or two later a turnover at the breakdown saw the ball come left from Jarvis to Brown and the full back swerved and dummied his way past the defence for his hat-trick. Jarvis converted. 0 – 26

As the half moved towards its end, a fine run from George Harder took play into the Irish twenty-two and found Masson in support but he was stopped just short of the line and penalised for not releasing the ball. Immediately after Quins won a lineout on the twenty-two and Jarvis produced a cross-field kick of pin point accuracy to find Kiba Richards unmarked on the right wing and he made no mistake with the catch and scored. Jarvis again missed the conversion from wide out. 0 -31 

Deep in injury time, following a good break by So’oialo from the base of a scrum, Robshaw went over for his second try. The conversion took the score to 0 – 38 and the half-time whistle followed. 

Quins made six substitutions at half-time but confusion was caused by the lack of names on shirts and duplication of numbers so that it was difficult to follow the pattern of replacements. Harder, Jarvis, Jimmy Richards, Amesbury, Masson and So’oialo certainly came off and Turner-Hall came on. That was certain, since after only one minute of the second half, it was he who scored the next and final Quins’ try. Brown took over the kicking duty and added the points. 0 – 45

Thereafter the substitutions on both sides and many stoppages for injuries allowed the game to become disjointed and error strewn on both sides. Irish benefited most, finding occasional sparks in attack and eventually gaining a consolation try with only five minutes play remaining when Feau’nati forced his way over for the score which Honeyben converted. 7 -45

The result takes Quins clear at the top of the Southern section of the A league with 16 points from 4 matches. Other results last night saw Saracens beat Gloucester and despite their still having a game in hand Gloucester are now only on 10 points from three games. The remaining fixture, London Wasps –v- Bath was postponed following a floodlight failure at Henley 

London Irish XV: 15. Benjamin Reboul, 14. Matt Humphries, 13. Paul Franze, 12. Dominic Feau’nati, 11. Nick Canty, 10. Matt Honeyben, 9. Charles Mezger, 1. Adam Halsey, 2. Simon Elkinson, 3. Tom Warren, 4. Gary Johnson, 5. Matt Banahan, 6. Dan Collier, 7. Jay King, 8. Matt Fitzgerald
Replacements: 16. James Campbell, 17. Gavin Hickie, 18. Charlie Gardiner, 19. Kevin Fisher, 20. Graham Barr, 21. James Storey, 22. David Law

Scorers:
Tries: Feau’nati
Conversions: Honeyben

NEC Harlequins XV: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Kiba Richards, 13. George Harder, 12. Tosh Masson, 11. Charlie Amesbury, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Steve So’oialo, 1. Mike Worsley, 2. Jimmy Richards, 3. Aston Croall, 4. George Robson, 5. Kevin Burke, 6. Chris Robshaw, 7. Tom Guest, 8. Nick Easter
Replacements: 16. Tani Fuga, 17. Dave Millard, 18. Jake Hayes, 19. James Inglis, 20. Darren Clayton, 21. Duncan James, 22. Tom Williams, 23. Justin Jones, 24. Jordan Turner-Hall, 25. Luther Marais

Scorers:
Tries: Brown (3), Robshaw (2), Richards, Turner-Hall
Conversions: Jarvis (4), Brown

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