Harlequins
Gloucester A 14-45 Harlequins A
By AlanQuin
October 20 2009
Despite a first half in which they were held at bay by the dogged defence of a young Gloucester side, Harlequins this Guinness A League encounter easily by 14 - 45 and ran in seven tries in the process.
An early penalty allowed the home side to open the scoring but the forwards had established supremacy in the scrum and three times drove across the Gloucester line without being allowed the try. Finally from yet another scrum Luke Wallace dived over for the try that Rory Clegg converted. Another penalty to the home side narrowed the lead to a single point. Then a defensive lapse allowed the left wing, May, to escape along the touchline and score a try. The conversion was missed but that score and another penalty allowed Gloucester to lead 14 – 7 at half time.
Harlequins opened the second half with attack and pace and produced two tries in the first few minutes. A good break by So’oialo took him deep into Gloucester territory. He moved the ball to Clegg who put Nils Mordt in for the try. The conversion was missed. Then So’oialo himself darted over from a quickly taken penalty. The conversion was missed again but now Quins had the lead at 14 – 17 and never lost it.
A penalty as Quins attacked down the left was kicked to the corner and a good catch and drive took the forwards over the line for James Johnston to touch down. Clegg was successful with the conversion.
Two tries soon followed from Josh Drauiniui. The first from a ball that had run loose which he picked up and despite tripping short of the line, he was able to score at the second attempt. The second came from a smooth, running backs move and a superb inside pass that put the winger through for the try. Clegg added both conversions.
With the score at 14 –38 and less than fifteen minutes remaining the bonus point victory was assured. Gloucester, however, were not done, In that final period they tried hard for a consolation score, keeping Quins under considerable pressure and down to fourteen men as, with all replacements used, Mordt was forced to leave the field looking dazed.
The Quins defence held the home attacks at bay and as injury time was being played they turned over possession and moved the ball smartly to the left wing for young Chris Rose to run fully 80 metres and touch down beneath the posts. Clegg added the final conversion with the last kick of the match so that Quins won by 14 points to 45.
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George went pretty well too.
A really enjoyable evening, and for a change the locals were not very vocal, the few (probably no more than 10) Quins fans making the most of it!
Roll on Saturday, the same score would be good, as would whatever was said at half time, 39 unanwered points in the second half....!
Thanks for the report Alan.
QUIN KONG
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
who scored the last try. Good execution and blistering pace !
Gloucester were a good team but were steadily undone by being
second best in the scrum by a margin.Also there was a period in the second half when the lineout consisted of four players approaching 2 metres (Robson, O'Conor, Matthews & York). Glouc had no idea where it was going & Quins exerted even more control up front
