The first score went to the visitors with an interception try which ended an early Quins’ attack as Paul Franze ran in fully 60 metres.  It was converted by Leek to giver the visitors the lead after only four minutes. Thereafter the scoring was all one way with Quins scoring nine tries and six conversions.  

The London Irish side were very disappointing.  On paper they appeared reasonably strong being led by Ryan Strudwick and with two former internationals, Justin Bishop and Phil Murphy.   Apart from the try, they only once threatened to cross the Quins’ line when a determined attempted pushover was driven back in the last minute of the match. They lacked ideas and penetration and skill.

Having conceded the first try, Quins immediately went on the attack and an excellent kick deep into the Irish twenty-two saw the full back caught in possession and the resulting scrum was Quins’.  A series of phases saw Kevin Burke force his way over to score the first of his two tries.  The conversion was missed.   5 – 7 after ten minutes.

But now Quins were showing clear determination.  The forwards rolling mauls were powerful and effective and gave excellent platforms for the backs to run the ball and they did so with skilful handling and crisp passing.  From one such maul a fine break by Adrian Jarvis saw him put Mike Brown over for the second try and add the conversion.

The speed and accuracy of the Quins attacks as they ran the ball and spread it wide saw overlaps being created and other gaps open in the Irish defence.  It was one such gap through which Jarvis to score and then convert his own try.  21 – 7 after twenty minutes.

Irish did attempt to counter, but good defence and unforced errors cost them both territory and possession.  An awesome tackle by Aston Croall broke up one attack allowing Vass to break and kick deep and again the speed of the Quins’ follow up saw the full back bustled into touch to give an attacking line-out inside the Irish twenty-two. From the line-out a series of phases saw the ball come to Kevin Burke who went over for his second try and the bonus point was secured.  Jarvis’ kick missed.

There might have been another try shortly after from another fine backs’ move which created a two-man overlap but for once the scoring pass saw Brown knock on with the line at his mercy.  Both sides committed some handling errors mainly as a result of the very quick passing both were attempting.  Then as the end of the half approached an excellent break by Ian Vass was stopped only a few metres from the line.  Good ball retention saw it passed rapidly along the line of attackers creating a four man overlap and Tosh Masson added a fifth try which Jarvis converted to end the half with the score 31 – 7.

Immediately from the kick-off at the start of the second half, a quickly taken penalty saw Mark Lambert galloping down the left wing only to be stopped just short of the try-line.  Quins were able to retain the ball and the forwards pushed Chris Robshaw over for the try.  The conversion was missed. 36 – 7.

Quins were dominating the proceedings and it was only a matter of time before they would score again.  It came from a clever little kick through by Jarvis which the Irish defender failed to deal with and George Harder was there to touch down between the posts.  Jarvis converted.

As the last quarter started, a hack through by the forwards saw the covering defender hustled into touch with the ball to give an attacking line-out.  Irish conceded a penalty and another line-out saw an excellent catch and drive which allowed Luke Sherriff to touch down for the eighth try and Jarvis added the points to bring up the half century.

Almost from the restart a rolling maul made a considerable advance into the Irish half and the ball went quickly out to Amesbury who had an easy run in and round under the posts for the try which Jarvis converted for the final score of the game 57 -7.

With just about 12 minutes remaining, a yellow card for Simon Goldsmith saw Quins reduced to 14 men and Irish have the majority of the remaining possession and territorial advantage.  The nearest which Irish came to another score came from a penalty some ten metres from the Quins’ line, when the Exiles tried to set up a pushover but, as they almost crossed the line, they were driven back by a determined Quins pack and the danger was averted with the resulting scrum going to Quins.

So Harlequins retain their lead at the top of the table by two points from Gloucester who also won last night.  The match between the two is likely to decide who reaches the final.  Quins are not going to find it easy.  There are three weeks to the next match against Bath at the Recreation Ground on 20^th March and matches with Saracens and Gloucester follow.  It may be significant that their remaining opponents are all the three teams who have beaten Quins A team this season.

NEC Harlequins XV:
15. Mike Brown, 14. George Harder, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. Charlie Amesbury, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Ian Vass, 1. Alex Rogers, 2. Aston Croall, 3. Mark Lambert, 4. Kevin Burke, 5. George Robson, 6. Pablo Bouza, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Luke Sherriff
Replacements: 16. Simon Goldsmith, 17. Hugh Innes, 18. James Inglis, 19. Darren Clayton, 20. Will Maddox, 21. Kiba Richards

Scorers:
Tries: Burke (2), Brown, Jarvis, Masson, Robshaw, Harder, Sherriff, Amesbury
Conversion: Jarvis (6)

London Irish XV:
15. Andrew Henderson, 14. Nick Canty, 13. Rodd Penney, 12. Paul Franze, 11. Justin Bishop, 10. Matt Leek, 9. Darren Edwards, 1. Adam Halsey, 2. Simon Elkington, 3. Richard Skuse, 4. Gary Johnson, 5. Ryan Strudwick, 6. Matt Banahan, 7. Declan Danaher, 8. Phil Murphy
Replacements: 16. Tom Warren, 17. James Campbell, 18. Charles Gardner, 19. Matt Donnelly, 20. Charles Mezger, 21.Luke Cousins, 22. Charlie Gower

Scorers:
Tries: Franze
Conversion: Leek

Referee: G. Garner

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