Harlequins
Carpe Diem: Harlequins 36-15 Worcester
By Rodders
February 18 2008
So, the most important question of the day …… how did Deano persuade those girls to strip half naked and dance around at half time – it was so COLD, COLD, COLD. …. but there were other things going on and if the girls were there to make sure that we won, that’s OK by me. (great coaching tactic by the way Deano, it looks like you have found the answer!!)
….. but at 12 – 8 with less than 20 minutes to go, the girls were the last thing on our minds.
Although we never looked as though we would lose, it seemed too close for comfort, especially with 17 points lost from missed kicks.
However, the final result made for a brilliantly entertaining afternoon if you were a Quins fan, and a dog of an afternoon if you were a Warriors fan.
My ‘classic’ Un Forced Error count clearly identified the Warriors problem – they made so many more than we did, resulting in two yellow cards and a huge loss.
– but we made our share of UFE, but they made so many more, that it simply didn’t matter.
However, giving away 17 points through missed kicks was pretty stupid and in past games has cost us the match
– but I was delighted to see AJ get his mojo back and slot those impossible kicks from out wide, but I, like everyone else, was left wondering what happened to all the easy ones?
– it could so easily have been 53 – 15, if not 53 – 10, but Rico Gear is a great finisher and I am sure he got the ball down – didn’t he?
It was a game we had to win, and we did, and I would claim we won in some style.
The style was a little unexpected but a massive pleasure and a relief to watch.
The style was established by the brilliant go forward attitude of Skinner.
Skinner epitomised what Quins achieved on Saturday – despite the missing 17 points that would have put Warriors away much earlier on, Skinner continued played great creative, fast rugby throughout the game.
I cant remember the last time I saw a back row forward chip and score ( if ever )
Quins were not necessarily better man for man, but were a better team, they so played for each other, I found it quite emotional.
But it is what rugby is all about, and it is a great relief that despite all our moaning and bitching about coaching, they are producing a team, not a bunch of disparate individuals trying to impress the boss.
We obviously had to beat a team languishing at no 11 in the league, but last time out we let them win, so the game was a huge banana skin.
My abiding memories of the game –
A so solid front row, a second row that took the game to Warriors, a back row that was totally brilliant.
Will, Chris and Nick played with composure and competence – complementing each other in the loose and solid in defence – obviously made easier by the work of the front five.
Which brings me to my Man of the Match – Danny Care
It is extraordinary that at a club that has the current England Scrum Half, puts another on the field on the wing who goes on to score a try, that Danny should stand out as my man of the match.
… but he was the motivator and director on the field.
He was the single individual who translated the quality ball from the pack into sniping attacking individual runs, appropriate space for AJ to shine and he defended like the terrier he is!
It was directly off his work that Skinner and Luscombe scored their tries.
In my opinion it was the best performance at scrum half we have seen at Quins for a long, long time.
He showed a maturity that belays his age – 21 years old last Jan 2nd!
It was a performance that I have been looking forward to since the day he joined – he didn’t disappoint.
Strong work in the centre and wings. with a last minute try from Tom Williams that was a great pleasure.
Tom has put so much effort in over the years and his reward was that twinkle toed try – well done Tom.
The great sigh of relief from Deano toward the end of the game needed no explaining.
We have tougher games ahead where we will not be given the freedom that a disjointed Warriors team gave us
– but the sign of a decent, nay a good team, is that they do not let their standards drop to the level of a lesser adversary.
– last Saturday we ultimately played our own game – we didn’t allow ourselves to be dragged down to their level, but we didn’t play above our selves either and despite our errors, we played an honest game that bodes well for the future.
Finally thanks to Deano and the Team for allowing me to write a maiden report, replete with semi naked maidens and glowing testimony.
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on on quins
What a pleasure to read a report from an experienced and passionate player/supporter.
I like the big gaps between the paragraphs too!
You are a true Gent, and that's for sure....
(all the other reports are brilliant too, of course)
"I cant remember the last time I saw a back row forward chip and score ( if ever )"
Yes, the only other time was at a A game three seasons ago at Kingsholm by a certain Mr Guest. Started with scrum on our 22, Mr Molikita holding the 7 in, giving Tom a free run. Even the Kingsholm one eye gang were stunned into silence followed by applause.
And on Saturday, Will showed real class, not just with this pearl but his alround performance. I look forward to a 6,7,8,9 of Robshaw, Skinner, Guest, and Care.....
And, hopefully, it will be Carpe Diem again on Sunday... after some "Carpe Viam" !!
Actually, until our late scoring spree I was worried that we were going to "give it away". Thankfully not. For me the performances of Will Skinner of late have been awesome. He really looks the real deal. (Hats off to Deano for that signing, to be sure!) As you say, Care looks the business as well.
It really would only take a few really good players, just a few..........................
You are, Also, a Top Man.
not that you need me to tell you...of course.
But if you were that cold, maybe you'd better come and join us sun-bunnies in the East stand - a lovely afternoon!
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"
ON ON ON 'QUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- center back row of the Lexus immediately in front of the opposition Coaches, the RFU adjudicators and the Journo's
- on the center line next to the debenture holders ( the REAL royalty )
I did spend a few years in the East, and was very happy but my son in law wanted to upgrade with the new West - so there we are ( but I do miss the sun ) and it was bloooody cold last week - it made my multiple pages of notes hard to write ( and totally intelligible and irrelevant anyway )
on on quins
