By Smurf
September 12 2004

A fine win by six tries to two at The Stoop this afternoon, bringing a reversal of scores from our last visit. Where we lost 43 - 21 on a miserable day last season, we were 45 - 13 victors.
Although it did not bode well from the start (or even
before the start - I had misplaced our tickets,
however the delightful ticket ofice staff at Quins had
replacements ready and waiting). Will Greenwood's good
5th minute try came after a scrappy early period, the
conversion going wide. On 8 minutes Cohen collected
the ball near his own 22 and kicked it well down the
pitch, obviously those kicking lessons are paying off!

Grayson converted a penalty chance a few minutes
later, from 35m on a windy afternoon, leaving the
Saints 5 - 3 behind after ten minutes. This would be
the last time in the match the points deficit went the
way of the Black, Green & Gold.

Damien Browne went on one of many sniping runs through
the Quins defence on 12 minutes, a series of passes
ended with a bad one to Tucker, who knocked it on.

At a following collpased scrum Mark Robinson got a bad
stamp on the knee (some reports say it was one of his
own players) and was to be replaced three minutes
later by Johnny Howard.

Sustained pressure in the Quins 22 led to a Grant
Seely try under the posts, Grayson converting to leave
Saints 10 - 5 up.

19 minutes gone and Wally ran the ball down the wing
at least 25 yards, the move breaking down after Saints
were penalised for going in from the side of a ruck.

Harlequins had a clearance kick on 24 minutes straight
into the arms of Bruce Reihana, who sent a pass out to
Ben Cohen, whose pass to Wally was judged to be
forward, only 20 yards short of the Quins line.

When Quins cleared the ball from this scrum, Bruce
again received the ball gratefully and sent it out to
Stcherbina, sending Howard over the line for the
second try of the afternoon - however, from my
viewpoint, the grounding was dubious. Budge said at
half time it was good though, that's enough for me!
Grayson's conversion left us 21 - 5 to the good.

An out of sorts Will Greenwood was replaced on 21
minutes with suspected concussion, and the Quins
scored a penalty on 28 minutes to bring the score back
to 17 - 8.

Quins were awarded another penalty near halfway for
Saints holding on, but the kick went over the dead
ball line for a Saints scrum on their 10m line.

From this scrum, Howard sent Blowers away, who flicked
the ball out to Cohen who ran in for try number three.
Grayson sent anothe good kick between the posts to put
the Jimmies 24 - 8 in the lead.

35 minutes gone, and a run from "Rhino" Rudd led to
nothing when his pass to Cohen was judged forward. The
Saints stole the ball from a subsequent lineout and
they pushed on after a Quins knock on.

On 37 minutes Grayson spun the ball to Stitch, who
sent Rudd over in the corner, Grayson missed the
conversion - albeit on the wrong side of the pitch,
with a bleeding head wound (he was blood binned
afterwards and Drahm was brought on), and in swirling
wind - to leave the Saints 29 - 8 up at half time and
a bonus point in the bag already. Now, just make sure
fo the other four....

Alan Solomons brought on Morris for Kempson and Darren
Fox for Blowers at hlaf time. Grayson tried a chip
through the Quins defence, which Monye collected, and
was promptly flattened by Grase and Rudd.

Saints were awarded a free kick on 45 minutes, near
the Quins 22, which Johnny Howard proceeded to knock
on. Foxy stole the ball from a ruck moments later, ran
clear and passed it to Grayson. The ball was shipped
through Bruce and Stitch to Tucker, scoring a try,
Saints fifth of the afternoon. Another missed kick
left the Saints 34 - 8 clear.

Saints had several clear oppurtunities all afternoon
that came to nothing through the standard mistakes
(knock on, holding on, forward pass) which shows that,
even in such a convincing win, there is still some
room for improvement.

Kempson returned to the pitch on 55 minutes as Robbie
Morris picked up an injury. Saints conceded a penalty
a few moments later as Krige pulled down a maul from
the wrong side. Drahm came on for Grayson permanently
just before the hour mark, his first major move in the
game being a clearance from his own 22 to between the
Quins 22 and 10m lines.

On 63 minutes Quins conceded a penalty which Drahm
kicked from 40 metres to leave the Saints 37 - 8 up.
The Saints brought on the reinforcements minutes later
as Matt Lord replaced Boome and Wylie Human came on
for Tucker.

Saints had a lineout on the Quins 22 on 72 minutes,
from which Fox was driven over for a try. The
conversion was missed again but Saints were 42 - 8 in
the clear. We might win this one!

74 minutes saw Wally replaced by Dan Richmond. On 78,
John Rudd was sin binned (harshly in my opinion, and
those of the Quins fans around me) for a late tackle.
Quins ran in a try from the subbsequent penalty,
however the majority around me felt there was at least
one forward pass in the move. The try was converted
and Saints were only 42 - 13 up.

On 82 minutes (after Drahm's restart went straight
out) Quins had a penalty inside the Saints half, which
they attempted to kick for touch, finding only Johnny
Howard. As he ran up the pitch, Quins conceded a
penatly which Drahm kicked to leave the final score 45
- 13.

All in all, a superb performance by all players, a
great day, nice weather, great fans, top of the table,
maximum points, can't ask for more. Except more of the
same next week!