By Worried of Whitton
February 24 2006

This weekend NEC Harlequins head off to the” Wild West” as they meet Exeter Chiefs on Saturday February 25th at the Country Ground, kick off at 15.00. A number of travelling supporters have “reservations” about this game, due to the expected poor state of the pitch,

but they will circle the wagons to provide some extra support.

With the very cold weather forecast, it will be no Indian summer; I just hope the supporters will be able   ”te pee”!  The western theme continues with the announcement by Exeter that there will be a Stagecoach from the park and ride facility in Honiton Road, as there will be NO parking at the ground.

Exeter currently lie in sixth place in the League, winning almost half their matches and therefore have garnered half as many points as Harlequins, ten of which are bonus points. Of their nine home matches to date Exeter have won six and lost three. Significantly those home losses have been by slender margins; Plymouth 0-7 Otley 8-12 and Pirates 16-4 early on in the season. When these two sides met at The Stoop back in October, Exeter were comprehensively scalped 70 – 5 by Harlequins and crashed to their worst ever defeat in the league. As the Exeter website reported at the time “… they were outplayed in every phase of the game, The Chiefs lacked power up front and pace behind and could no way match the level of performance provided by the West London Aristocats.” Exeter have shown indifferent form all season but will be fired up to avenge that heavy defeat, therefore, the clash this Saturday is therefore expected to be an all too different story. Although it has been often said this season,  it is likely to be their most difficult game of the season. The cold weather and the lack of vegetation on the pitch will play its’ part. A CAW thread posted this week by Battering Ram Winger, listed things that are missing from top flight rugby, but ”The regular sight of two packs of mud monsters slithering around in identically sodden brown kit on a pitch resembling a ploughed field - presumably they knew who was on which team by silhouette although I often wonder whether they just decided that because they were facing one way or another that was the team they were playing for the moment.”, is fully expected to put in an appearance on Saturday afternoon, judging by some photos of a game last weekend on Exeter Chiefs website.

Since we played Exeter back in October at the Twickenham Stoop, they have dismissed Director of Rugby Ian Bremner and are now coached by Rob Baxter and Davie Gray. Having lost to London Welsh in early January, the Chiefs put a run of three wins together against Doncaster, Cornish Pirates and Rotherham before losing away to Pertemps Bees last weekend.

Last week the new management at Exeter experienced their first defeat by going down in a 23-16 defeat to Pertemps Bees at Sharmans Cross. A losing bonus point was picked up but this would have provided little consolation in a gamethat Exeter could and should have won. All Exeter’s points were scored by Tony Yapp, and in doing so passed the individual club record for league points scored.

Bees went ahead earliy in the match with two penalties but after 30 minutes Yapp broke through to score a try which he duly converted. He extended the lead with a penalty just before half time, with Exeter leading 6-10 at the break. In the second half both sides had players binned, as Bees wrestled back the lead with a converted try. Another penalty by Yapp closed the gap before Bees went ahead through a penalty of their own eight minutes from time. Bees lead was further extended with a converted try by ex Quin Adrian Olver. Exeter continued to apply pressure but even with Bees reduced again to 14 men and a consolation Yapp penalty, Exeter were unable increase their tally, final score 23-16. Exeter were out defended by Bees, as they are likely to be by Quins on Saturday.. Bees made less defensive errors and were never seriously challenged by Exeter. Bees, in the lower reaches of the division, were far more determined to win than the Chiefs. Exeter coach Rob Baxter commented that his side “ made a few individual mistakes that cost them dearly”, and that although the result was a disappointment “there were no major problems that could not be put right” ahead of the meeting with Quins. He added “our set pieces were good and we got decent possession, but we didn’t damage them. We didn t manage the game very well”. Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians?

An eight try blitz on Coventry saw Quins safely home again last weekend, in a match where they scored their 100^th try of the season. The highlights of a match saw Monye increase his try tally to thirteen this season. In what must have been the fastest score in any league this season, Monye was over the line within 12 seconds of the start in a well worked move with Nick Easter winning the ball from the kick off. Monye and Quins second try, must be a conter for best try of the season as So’oialo picked up the ball deep inside Quins territory,. As Semper Scorchio reported “with the support of Jarvis, Easter and Williams, the Quins players turned defence into a rapier-like attack. Jarvis was involved in the move again, drew the defence and made a great pass out of the tackle to Vos who made sure that Ugo went over in the corner”.  Keogh was unable to increase his try count but Nick Easter bagged a brace and has now drawn level with Keogh on twelve tries.

The news from the Exeter camp is that after his 200th appearance for the Exeter Chiefs last week, No.8 Richard Baxter is named as captain in place of the injured Sam Blythe.Player coach Alistair Murdoch starts on the wing in place of Gary Kingdom while Simon Jenkins takes over the hooking duties from the injured skipper. Danny Porte makes a return to the front row starting line up and young winger Pete Fisher gets a call into the squad. Blindside flanker Gary Willis also starts with Kiwi Tony Walker dropping to the bench.

With England playing Scotland at both under 19 and under 21 level this Friday, Harlequins have a total of six players unavailable due to international selection. Mike Brown is starting at full back for the under 21s while Alex Rogers, Mark Lambert, Tosh Masson and Chris Robshaw are all named on the bench.

For the Under 19s, Jordan Turner-Hall is again named in the squad that play Scotland at The Stoop on Friday evening Scotty reported that “.with so many players unavailable due to international selection, we will not finalise our squad to travel to Exeter until Friday.

Saturday will provide another stern test for Quins, it will be another tough match but Quins should prevail and come away with their 20^th league win of the season. The conditions of the weather and pitch will play a part and I would not be surprised to see Exeter come away with a bonus point.  For all those traveling to the match have a safe journey. This will be one of the last matches to be played at the County Ground, as the ground has been sold for development and Exeter are moving in the summer to a new purpose built stadium on the outskirts of Exeter at Sandy Park.

Come on You Quins !

 

NEC Harlequins:
15. Tom Williams, 14. Simon Keogh, 13. Gavin Duffy, 12. Mel Deane, 11. Ugo Monye, 10. Andrew Mehrtens, 9. Steve So’oialo, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. Jimmy Richards, 3. Lorne Ward, 4. Jim Evans, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Tom Guest, 7. Andre Vos (Capt.), 8. Nick Easter
Replacements: 16. Aston Croall, 17. Alex Rogers / Mark Lambert, 18. Kevin Burke, 19. Luke Sherriff, 20. Adrian Jarvis, 21. Charlie Amesbury, 22. George Harder

Exeter Chiefs:
15.Stephen Ward, 14.Jason Luff, 13.Junior Fatialofa,12.Mark Fatialofa, 11.Alistair Murdoch, 10.Tony Yapp, 9. Kevin Barrett, 1.Stephen Bennett, 2.Simon Jenkins, 3.Danny Porte, 4.Chris Bentley, 5.James Hanks, 6.Gary Willis, 7.Alan Miller, 8 Richard Baxter,(c),
Replacements: George Davis, Richard Liddington, Mark Gabey, Tony Walker, Ian Wilson,
Adam Staniforth, Pete Fisher,