By sb
April 27 2003

The U21s lost 23-32 to a strong Gloucester side at the Stoop on Saturday. Several players were missing with a virus (Tom Williams and Henry Barratt) and several others were suffering some effects of it and the team lacked the bite of the game against Leicester. The 21s were on the scoreboard first with an Adrian Jarvis penalty but they gave away a penalty themselves which Gloucester put into the corner. They scored from a catch and drive to make 3-5. The game swung from end to end with nobody able to carve out any real chances before the Gloucester right wing caught a clearance kick, chipped ahead and recovered the ball to score. Score 3-10.

Quins then responded with a series of excellent attacks down the right before moving the ball left where after two near misses, scrum half Rob Outen squirmed over for a try. Half time score 8-10.

In the second half, Gloucester came out with a more restricted game plan and they used their powerful pack to great effect. Quins' indiscipline gave away too many penalties which were kicked to the corner and, from two of them, Gloucester scored tries, one of which was converted to make it 8-22. Another attack from a 5 metre line out was stopped by some good defence but the Gloucester fly half popped over a drop kick to make it 8-25.

The U21s, though, never let their heads go down and some decent pressure saw the ball switched to Adrian Jarvis who slotted home an excellent drop goal. 11-25.

Again, however, Quins discipline at the ruck and maul let them down and Gloucester scored yet another converted try from a catch and drive. Their rolling maul was proving almost unstoppable and was technically the best seen all season.

Although 11-32 down, the 21s never gave up and Ugo Monye followed up a kick ahead to score. 16-32. The Quins carried on attacking and, after a good passing move, they scored out wide, Adrian Jarvis getting the conversion. 23-32. They ended the game on the front foot but were just unable to get the bonus point for getting within seven points of Gloucester.

For the first time in several games, the forwards met their match in the scrummage and the Gloucester forward play was of a high standard thoughout. Their three quarters, however, lack real penetration. From a Quins perspective, the team played with great heart, tackled well and scored three good tries, however, as with the Leicester game it was disappointing that Ugo Monye only received one pass in open space all game and the back play lacked the sharpness of previous weeks.

Last game, away at Northampton next Saturday (assuming they don't re-organise the Saracens match already postponed twice).

Team: Willcocks, Monye, Reay (Hammond), Bell, Allen, Jarvis, Outen (Martin), Guest, James, MacCormick, Cread, Parker, Storer, Walton, Hopkins