By Old King's No.8
February 26 2007

Those who traveled down to Bristol in the early stages of the season would have been looking forward to this one. Despite the West Country team’s surprisingly strong start to the season, no-one was expecting the trip to the Mem to be as embarrassing as it ultimately was.

The final score flattered the visitors, who were only able to give the scoreboard a modicum of undeserved respectability in the dying minutes when, with the match long since won, Bristol took their collective foot off the gas.

Since then Quins had undergone something of a resurgence, catalysed by the win away at Connacht in the European competition. By the time Bristol reached the Stoop on Saturday, Quins had fought their way up as high as sixth in the table and, with Worcester languishing in twelfth place, seemed to have banished any concerns of relegation. Indeed, the aim now appears to be a top-six finish and Heineken Cup rugby based on league position rather than sneaking in through the back door of the European Challenge Cup.

Such ambitions would be significantly furthered by a win over the second-placed team although, despite the return of Six Nations rugby, neither team was severely affected by international call-ups and Bristol would certainly have arrived with the intention of overhauling Leicester, who failed to finish strongly enough at Welford Road to beat Northampton earlier in the day. It would be a hard ask.

And so it proved. The previous week’s match at Frankin’s Gardens had been a hard-fought match but this week’s encounter was brutal and both teams will be left counting the cost of a number of nasty injuries, the product of fearsome tackling and intense competition at the breakdown.

Playing towards the North Stand, Quins started strongly, disrupting the first Bristol line-out on the half-way line. Nick Easter, back from winning his first England cap, was clearly in the mood to make sure it wasn’t the last and burst through the line but lost the ball forwards in the tackle. However, the Quins front row destroyed Bristol at the scrum and won a penalty just over 40 meters out. Adrian Jarvis ignored the disappointing noise from the visitors in the northern reaches of the Lexus Stand to sneak his kick over the cross-bar. 3 - 0 to Quins with just three minutes on the clock.

Bristol came back well and, having won the ball back from the re-start, began battering at the Quins midfield and off-loading expertly with Higgit and Brew providing a powerful, slick centre partnership. However, Andre Vos, in the process of producing one of his finest performances of the season so far, was irrepressible in the tackle. Although there seemed to be no way past the home 10m line, David Rose ultimately pinged Quins for off-side, although how he worked that one out is anyone’s guess since Bristol hadn’t actually reached the part of the field where the penalty was awarded. Nevertheless, Jason Strange converted and the scores were tied at 3 - 3 with six minutes gone.

Bristol chipped the ball over the Quins defence from the re-start and a mistake with the clearance gave Bristol a line-out on inside the Quins 10m line. A strong drive saw play move towards the south-west corner and a Quins knock-on at the breakdown gave the visitors a scrum. Although it took an age for the ball to be put in, Rose awarded Bristol a free-kick and the ball was spun out left. However, Simon Keogh, in for new England cap Strettle, showed the sort of reliability that we have come to expect from the pocket battleship as he hared across the pitch and bundled the Bristol wing into touch in the corner. Jarvis cleared from the line-out to just outside the 22.

A good Bristol take at the line-out saw quick ball out to the centres, where an uncharacteristic mix-up saw the ball knocked-on and a penalty awarded to Quins. Gommarsall was quick off the mark but, as he tried to chip over the line, his kick was knocked back by the Bristol defence, which had not yet retreated 10m. Rose pushed the penalty up 10m and AJ found touch. The ball came back quickly from the line-out and AJ put it up for Ugo Monye to chase. The winger took the catch brilliantly, but was hit almost immediately with a crunching tackle. With Bristol coming in at the side, Rose signaled the penalty but as the ball came back Jarvis ended up stranded in midfield and went back for the kick at goal. However, the attempt drifted left and the scores remained level on 14 minutes.

The match was beginning to heat up. Keogh collected the drop-out and off-loaded to Tani Fuga who  smashed his way though the Bristol line and passed to Easter who drove in-field. The ball was recycled to Mike Brown who shot off towards the north-east corner. Somehow the ball entered touch off a Bristol player and Quins had a fine attacking line-out. Vos drove the ball back in and Quins recycled on the 5m line. However, a pass from the breakdown was intercepted and Bristol ran the ball back up the west side of the pitch. Once again, it was the pace and tenacity of Keogh that saved the day as he got all the way across the pitch to make what was certainly a try-saving tackle at the Quins 22. Bristol knocked-on but Ugo collected the ball and was on his way back up-field, but Rose pulled him back for the scrum.

Following Jarvis’s clearance, Quins stole the Bristol line-out and Gommarsall put in a massive box-kick which found touch on the Bristol 22. However, Quins were pinged for pulling down at the line-out and Bristol cleared to half-way. This time they held onto their line-out ball and chipped over the Quins line. However, Keogh took the ball well, set up the ruck and Jarvis cleared. Bristol drove well from the line-out and more slick passing moved the ball out to the Bristol wing, Robinson, who chucked a strop as Quins unceremoniously dragged him into touch.

Quick ball off the top of the line from Easter was driven in by Vos and Bristol conceded another penalty at the breakdown thanks to more awesome work from the Quins back row. However, Jarvis missed his touch and Bristol chipped over again. Gommarsall attempted to clear but the ball was knocked back by Bristol. The away fans were on their feet as their team chased the ball for what seemed like a certain try, but Rose called play back for a Quins scrum since the ball had been knocked-on rather than charged down.

The Quins scrum was solid again and Brown had plenty of time to clear to half-way. Easter stole the line-out ball again and knocked it down for Fuga, who stormed back into contact. More indiscipline from Bristol at the breakdown was overlooked, but Quins got the put-in at the scrum and Mike Brown broke up-field. However, to the despair of the home crowd, a surprisingly poor decision saw Brown’s pass intercepted by David Lemi who ran in for the try from his own 22. However, Strange was unable to add the additional points as his kick missed to the left. With 27minutes gone Bristol led 6 - 8, but that would be the last time they troubled the scoreboard.

Ugo put in a great tackle straight from the re-start but Bristol were still able to get the ball back and clear. Brown was tackled in the air and dumped onto the pitch to the annoyance of the crowd, but somehow still got the ball back and Rose waved play on. The Quins forwards were putting in a lot of hard work round the fringes with Paul Volley leading from the front as usual, but Bristol’s tackling was equally fierce and it required a good grubber kick from Gommarsall to make some real ground. Bristol won the line-out on their own 5m line and cleared to the 22. Quins attacked again, but once more the Bristol defence held firm, eventually forcing a knock-on from the Quins scrum-half. Monye collected the clearance and again made no mistake as he took the ball into contact and set up the ruck well with Brown in support.

The intensity of the game was beginning to show as Salter had to leave the field for treatment to a cut, being replaced by the Bristol 18. Bristol’s clearance had entered touch off a Quins player but, whilst it was now Bristol’s turn to run at the Quins defence, they also found that there was no way through. Another chip over from Bristol produced yet another good catch from Simon “David who?” Keogh, who returned the ball with interest as Taumalolo knocked on when the ball bobbled nastily. However, Keogh was soon after replaced by Tom Williams as the second blood substitution of the match.

When Luscombe lost the ball in contact Bristol were able to clear their lines again, but the Quins line-out was operating well and Fuga was able to drive in with the ball. Bristol’s forwards, who had been living dangerously throughout, were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and Jarvis punished them with a perfect kick though the middle of the posts. With four minutes left in the half, Quins had cut the deficit to two points, trailing 6 - 8.

Quins looked to break quickly straight from the re-start, but a pass out to Ugo was judged to be just forwards. However, Bristol’s vaunted scrum went through 90E and Quins took the put-in. Again, the Quins scrum showed the opposition how it was done and AJ put up a high ball for Mel Deane to chase and collect. Bristol, pulling shirts as the Quins backs rushed through their line, gave away another penalty and then a further 10 meters for chat. Jarvis’s attempt drifted just right of the posts. From the drop out AJ attempted two more testing chips over the Bristol line, the first finding Mike Brown who kept the ball infield to be returned to the fly-half; the second to Williams, who was unable to keep it under control. However, as Rose blew for half-time, the flow of play certainly seemed to have swung in Quins’ favour, although the determined Bristol defence was making life very difficult indeed.

The two blood replacements were reversed as the teams came out for the second half. Bristol carried on in the same vein as they had played in the first 40 minutes, slowing the Quins ball down despite the efforts of Easter and Fuga. Following an alleged knock-on from Fuga’s off-load, Bristol were able to clear out of their 22 and the pass from Gommarsall was too far in front of Jarvis to hold on, conceding another scrum. However, Bristol kicked the ball straight into touch, giving Quins a line-out on the half-way line. For once, the Quins line-out didn’t operate with its usual efficiency, a speculative long throw being collected by Bristol, who kicked into the Quins 22. Gommers’ return didn’t find touch and Bristol ran the ball back. David Rose appeared to close his eyes for a moment as Bristol were allowed to get away first with a blatant forward pass and then a beautiful example of crossing, but Budgett, the Bristol blind-side eventually knocked-on anyway on the Quins 22. In the process, Vos was cut to the head and Skinner came on as the third blood replacement of the day.

Easter drove in from the base of the scrum and looked to have been turned, but the Quins 8 somehow managed to get the ball back onside: no doubt the result of some sort of filthy, voodoo trick taught to him by Martin Corry. Skinner went screaming after the clearance and produced another sparkling gem of back-row magic to snaffle the loose ball before combining with Easter to push play up-field as the Quins back row began to assert itself fully. Jarvis attempted another of the chips that had put so much pressure on the Bristol defence towards the end of the first half but didn’t find the space and Bristol returned the ball into Quins’ 22. The ball bounced over the try-line and Gommarsall got back to touch down for the drop-out.

Although Bristol set up one of the few mauls of the match, the Quins forwards somehow stole the ball. In their frustration, Bristol came offside again to concede another penalty. Jarvis missed touch for the second time, but when Easter collected the return and threw in a quick line-out, Bristol found themselves offside again and then gave away a further 10m for yet more chat. This time, AJ’s kick snuck inside the left post and Quins took the lead 9 - 8 with 12 minutes of the half played.

With Vos back on the pitch, Lemi kicked the ball straight into touch and Gommarsall box-kicked over the line-out. Rose missed another forward pass but, with the rain now coming down, Bristol knocked on again and Jarvis put another high kick up to test the defence. Luscombe was after it but, having got there, didn’t put as much pressure on the catcher as he might have done. However, the arrival of Nick Easter resulted in another Bristol knock-on. Although he went down injured, Easter was back up again shortly.

Brown came into the back line from the scrum and Bristol gave away another penalty for not rolling away in the tackle. Quins’ line-out on the Bristol 22 was back on form but when the ball found its way to Mel Deane the best the defence could do was trip him up and El Abd was sent to the bin for 10 minutes. Jarvis knocked over the penalty to extend the lead to 12 - 8 with 17 minutes of the half gone as Bristol replaced Regan and Llewellyn.

Bristol managed to get on top of Quins with a penalty awarded against Monye in the north-east corner which was kicked to touch for a line-out 5 meters from the Quins try-line. Strange dropped back into the pocket for the drop-goal attempt which looked to be on target, but Vos was there too quickly and charged the kick down before hacking the ball up-field twice all the way to the Bristol 22, then forcing a knock-on when he arrived on top of the defence. If the former captain thinks it’s time for him to retire, it really doesn’t look like it. Pure class.

Gommarsall and Volley were substituted for So’oailo and Skinner before the scrum. Easter & Co again tried to drive in round the fringes to no avail, eventually leading to another knock-on. However, the Bristol scrum was still suffering in the face of a great scrummaging display from the Quins tight-five, although they did manage to win the ball back and clear into Quins’ half. Mike Brown broke the line from the ensuing line-out with Luscombe in support. This time the centre was able to recycle the ball quickly, but as the ball went out left it was knocked-on by Skinner in the tackle and the Bristol 7 returned from the bin without Quins being able to take advantage of the extra man.

Monye took the Bristol clearance well but was driven back hard only for Bristol to concede another penalty for going over the top. So’oailo broke from the line-out but the ball was very slow coming back and Ugo didn’t do a great job as a replacement scrum-half. However, Quins were still able to press up through the middle and force another penalty on the Bristol 22. Salter didn’t get up from under the ruck and the medical staff were called on and the number 8 was helped off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder. Jarvis slotted the penalty to finish the scoring at 15 - 8 with 10 minutes to go.

Quins were penalised for offside after the re-start, but a Bristol knock-on following the ensuing line-out handed possession back to the home side. Bristol tackled like maniacs deep in Quins territory, hoping to force a turn-over in a scoring position, but Keogh turned up at scrum-half and Jarvis was able to clear the half-way line. A rather strange event occurred in front of the Lexus Stand when, as Nick Easter attempted to get to his feet, O’Riordan began shoving him around and Rose, who had already awarded a penalty to Bristol, moved Quins back 10 meters. If the referee thought Easter was trying to slow the game down, his decision was harsh to say the least. In any event, Bristol found themselves with a line-out on the Quins 5m line and a chance to level the match with a converted try. However, the majestic Vos stole the throw-in and Keogh cleared the danger. Not only that, but the ball bounced into touch off a Bristol player, giving Quins the throw-in.

As the ball was cleared up-field from the line-out, Easter went down with what looked like a nasty nose injury, which left him on the floor in what looked like considerable pain. Volley came back on as another blood replacement. Quins stole yet another line-out but Jarvis didn’t find touch with his clearance. Ugo was unable to hold onto the return kick, which bounced up off his chest, but by now there were only three minutes left as Bristol replaced their tight-head. Bristol’s attack floundered due to another forward pass and Easter was able to return for the scrum. Jarvis cleared to the 22 and Bristol went left from the line-out. However, Quins turned over possession and hammered the ball into touch for the win. The scenes of celebration were, however, tempered by the sight on Nick Easter being helped from the pitch, again in significant pain, with what looked like a severe ankle injury.

So, having been displaced for a short time by London Irish, Quins recover their sixth spot in the Premiership. While Bristol may have built their season on an experienced pack, their scrum wasn’t at the races and their line-out was erratic. However, it was Bristol’s indiscipline which was to be their undoing, the penalty count ending significantly in Quins’ favour. Much credit for this has to go to the Quins pack and especially the back-row, who were outstanding to a man, with Vos a deserving Man of the Match. Simon Keogh also deserves an honourable mention for being everywhere all at once and producing an almost flawless display. With Leicester, Wasps and Gloucester over the next few weeks, Quins will have to maintain and build on this form in order to consolidate their position and, perhaps, begin to dream of a  top-four finish. It has to be hoped that Easter’s injury is far less serious than it obviously was painful, or he may be absent for Quins and England for some weeks. However, from the club’s perspective, Chris Hala’ufia is an extremely capable deputy. But for the time being, the nightmare of that trip to the Mem has been expunged and Quins can now certainly begin looking up instead of down. 

Attendance: 11,316

NEC Harlequins
Aston Croall, Tani Fuga, Mike Ross, Ollie Kohn, Jim Evans, Andre Vos, Paul Volley (Will Skinner , 62 mins), Nick Easter, Andy Gomarsall (Steve So'oialo, 62 mins), Adrian Jarvis, Ugo Monye, Mel Deane, Hal Luscombe, Simon Keogh, Mike Brown.
Replacements: Jimmy Richards, Ricky Nebbett, Nicolas Spanghero, Will Skinner (Paul Volley, 62 mins), Steve So'oialo (Andy Gomarsall, 62 mins), Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom Williams

Scorers: Penalties: Adrian Jarvis (5)

Bristol Rugby
Alex Clarke, Mark Regan, Darren Crompton, Roy Winters, Gareth Llewellyn, Nathan Budgett, Joe El Abd, Matt Salter, Brian O'Riordan, Jason Strange, David Lemi, Rob Higgit, Neil Brew, Lee Robinson , Josh Taumalolo
Replacements: David Blaney, Jason Hobson, Sean Hohneck, Redford Pennycook, Danny Gray, Sam Cox, Craig Morgan

Scorers: Try: David Lemi; Penalty: Jason Strange