By Prof
May 3 2006

It was a day of finals at The Twickenham Stoop on Saturday 29th April when NEC Harlequins took on Plymouth Albion. It was the last game of the season, our last game in ND1 (hopefully ever) and the last game for a number of players including Will Greenwood and Tony Diprose.

The engineering works on the railway and the roadworks on the A316 made it difficult for people to get to the ground on this unique Double Header day when Quins RL were to take on Huddersfield later in the day. The kick off was delayed by ten minutes so the 12,301 spectators could get in and settled for the kick off.

Dippy leads the team out as captain ©Prof

It was Tony Diprose who received the kick off  by Ed Barnes, Dippy, usually so reliable, didn’t take it cleanly and Plymouth had a lineout 20m away from the Quins line. A knock on at the lineout handed an attacking scrum to the visitors. Plymouth recycled the ball well (with a little bit of help from Mr Kitt who missed a few things) but good Quins  defence kept them out until the referee awarded Quins a penalty for crossing.

Another penalty for crossing moments later gave Andrew Mehrtens the chance to drill the ball downfield to find touch 5m from the Plymouth line. Fuga threw the ball perfectly to Diprose who gave the ball off the top to Evans who was on the peel, he charged towards the line but knocked on right on the line.

Dippy majestic at the back of the lineout ©Prof

The first points were put on the board by Andrew Mehrtens after 10 minutes when Albion were penalised for killing the ball on the ground about 35m out. 3-0, 10 minutes.

Soon after the restart Nigel Cane went off with a blood injury and straight away his replacement, Matias Albina, made an impact when he looked to have a clear run up the right wing to score but an excellent tackle back by Tom Williams snuffed out the danger.

Mike Brown puts in a huge touch kick ©Prof

Plymouth prop, Martin Rice, gave the visitors a narrow lead when they drove a maul over from short range, Barnes failed with him attempted conversion 10m in from the touchline. 3-5, 21 minutes. 

Just three minutes later Nic Rouse pulled down a Quins attacking maul right in front of the referee which allowed Mehrtens to put Quins back in the lead with a well taken penalty. 6-5, 24 minutes. 

The lead changed hands straight away when Barnes scored after Miall was penalised for excessive use of the boot on a Plymouth player lying on the wrong side of a ruck. 6-8, 26 minutes. 

Gavin Duffy made a great break after a Quins lineout but he held onto the ball too long before passing to Mike Brown who was steaming up on the left wing, he made the line but the touch judge must have seen a knock on over the line or a failure to successfully ground the ball and another good scoring opportunity went begging.

Mike Brown challenges for a high ball ©Buzz

Easter drove forward after a scrum and fed Greenwood who made good yards before feeding So’oialo who went over to score under the posts, Mehrtens added the extras. 13-8, 31 minutes.

Quins pressured the Plymouth line until half time but didn’t add to their score because of a few handling errors, including one phantom one by Simon Keogh that only Mr Kitt could see! 13-8, half time.

Miall pulled down ©CAW

The Plymouth lock, Rouse, was binned for dangerously pulling down Simon Miall at a lineout and although My Kitt missed the event his touch judge told him what had happened.

Sherriff charges forward ©Barquin Mad 

The extra man allowed Quins to put a lot of pressure on Plymouth and a quick tap penalty by So’oialo made good yards, a chip through and pressure from Simon Keogh perhaps should have resulted in a penalty for holding on but Quins had to settle for a 5m scrum instead when they were awarded a penalty. Sherriff  charged forward and got close before passing to So’oialo who grabbed his second try of the game. Mehrtens slotted the conversion to increase Quins lead. 20-8, 48 minutes.

So'oialo goes in for his second try ©Barquin Mad

Luke Sherriff was pulled off by the management for what could be his last time at Quins and he was replaced by Tom Guest.

Plymouth again had a good series of phases, edging up the pitch and preventing Quins from regaining possession before Tom Guest put in a thumping tackle, turned the ball over and allowed Mehrtens to put in a huge touch kick which led to a lineout 10m from the Plymouth line. Where Quins were awarded a free kick for delaying the throw. Quins chose a scrum and after some excellent, snappy short passing Tom Guest went over to score, Mehrtens was again successful with his kick. 27-8, 54 minutes.

Mehrtens converts Guest's try ©Prof

Miall stole the next lineout and Mike Brown sprinted up the left wing before putting a chip over the defence before he was taken out late. The referee decided that no action was needed. Mehrtens took a quick penalty from the left wing putting in an excellent crossfield kick to Keogh and Duffy who were sprinting up the right wing. Keogh went over with the ball but the referee disallowed the third Quins ‘try’ of the day after he and his touch judge decided that he couldn’t be that fast and he must have been offside. He certainly didn’t look offside but the officials’s decision stands.

Keogh's disallowed 'try' ©Prof

Another good attacking play by Albion’s Ed Barnes saw Quins defending on their line as the visitors pressed for a try before Mike Brown knocked the ball on and the referee awarded a penalty try, Barnes’s kick was good. 27-15, 61 minutes. 

Andrew Mehrtens was replaced by Adrian Jarvis, 61 minutes.

Another ‘interesting’ decision by the touch judge saw Simon Keogh catch a penalty kick to touch before it crossed the line but the lineout was awarded anyway!

A high tackle by Thomas ©Prof

A dangerously high tackle saw the Plymouth captain, Danny Thomas, sin binned.

Thomas is binned ©RobShew

Tani Fuga and Steve So’oialo were replaced by Jimmy Richards and Ian Vass, 69 minutes. One minute later Tony Diprose was pulled off by the management for the last time and he received a well deserved standing ovation.

 
Williams takes on the Plymouth defence ©Prof

An excellent move saw some great interplay between Duffy, Williams, Brown and finally Greenwood who gave the scoring pass to Pablo Bouza who got his first 1stXV try of the season. Jarvis slotted the kick. 33-15, 75 minutes.

Pablo Bouza trots over the line ©RobShew

Another chip over his opposite number again saw Mike Brown taken out late but this time Tom Williams was first to the ball and touched down just inches from the line meaning Quins had reached the 1000 points for mark. Will Greenwood (who up until this point had a 100% kicking record – 1 out of 1 at Doncaster) stepped up to take the conversion and his narrow miss saw his percentage success rate cut in half. 39-15, 81 minutes.

Williams, Greenwood and Duffy celebrate passing the 1000 point mark ©Prof

Greenwood's conversion attempt ©Barquin Mad

Two minutes later Greenwood was pulled off by the management for the last time and like Dippy before him he had a standing ovation.

Greenwood comes off the pitch for the last time ©Prof

The last play of the game saw Simon Keogh taken out off the ball and then repeatedly punched on the floor by van Eyk and again Mr Kitt decided that a wagging finger was enough punishment.

Handbags - not a nice ending to our season in ND1 ©RobShew

The final score was 39-15, Quins had won, secured another bonus point and had accumulated 1001 points over the season in the league.

Dippy coming through the tunnel of players for the last time ©Barquin Mad

Mad Max then interviewed the two retiring players and there were no surprises when Greenwood and Diprose received the man of the match and tackle of the match awards, although if it hadn’t been their last games Steve So’oialo may well have won both awards for scoring two tries and dumping Tooala on his posterior.

Luke prevents Greenwood minor from being run over by the tractor ©Prof

Easter and Fuga lift Dippy ©Prof

We scored the second highest number of points against Plymouth this season with only Newbury scoring more and with the three wasted chances the score could have been much higher.

Bob Hiller gives Will and Dippy their silver platters ©Prof

With the lap of honour to show off the two trophies at half time during the Rugby League game (the second win of the day for Quins) and then a great party under the East Stand with the Melody Fakers it really was a fitting end to this season that has been so enjoyable. 

Ceri takes the cups on a lap of honour ©Prof

Although more will be written about this season over the coming days I’d just like to thank the players who are leaving at the end of this season. I’d also like to say best of luck for the future to the back room staff who are leaving including Dave Bell and John Eagle who have kept the players in top condition all season.

The family Greenwood on the pitch after the game ©Buzz

Next season will be hard, very hard, but that won’t be starting for a few months. In the mean time we can look back on a season that has seen record try scoring, record points, longest winning run, increased support, two finals, two trophies, more travelling fans, lots of new grounds visited, lots of friends made and all in all an awful lot of fun had.

Thanks to everyone associated with Quins, it's been emotional.

Thanks for everything gents ©Prof

NEC Harlequins
Aston Croall, Tani Fuga (Jimmy Richards, 66 mins), Ricky Nebbett (Lorne Ward, 57 mins), Jim Evans, Simon Miall, Nick Easter, Luke Sherriff (Tom Guest, 46 mins), Tony Diprose (Pablo Bouza, 70 mins), Steve So'oialo (Ian Vass, 66 mins), Andrew Mehrtens (Adrian Jarvis, 60 mins), Mike Brown, Gavin Duffy, Will Greenwood (Mel Deane, 82 mins), Simon Keogh, Tom Williams.
Replacements: Jimmy Richards (Tani Fuga, 66 mins), Lorne Ward (Ricky Nebbett, 57 mins), Pablo Bouza (Tony Diprose, 70 mins), Tom Guest (Luke Sherriff, 46 mins), Ian Vass (Steve So'oialo, 66 mins), Adrian Jarvis (Andrew Mehrtens, 60 mins), Mel Deane (Will Greenwood, 82 mins)
Scorers: Tries: Pablo Bouza, Tom Guest, Tom Williams, Steve So'oialo (2). Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (3), Adrian Jarvis. Penalties: Andrew Mehrtens (2)

Plymouth Albion:
Martin Rice, Stuart Pearl, Ryan Hopkins, Nic Rouse, Brett Luxton, Alfie Tooala, Danny Thomas, Tom Hayes, Nigel Cane, Ed Barnes, Nic Stestaret, Keni Fisilau, Regardt Van Eyk, Ed Lewsey, Luke Arscott
Replacements: Nat Saumi, Jon Fabian, Matias Albina, Alaistair Livesey, Graham Dawe, Ben Rowntree, Chris Lowrie
Scorers: Tries: Martin Rice, Penalty. Conversion: Ed Barnes. Penalty: Ed Barnes