Early pressure gave Bath a penalty in only the second minute of the match, but Luke Cozens’ shot went wide.  Quins’ response was to attack with ball in hand and the first glimpse of Ryan Manyika, starting in a match for the first time, showed his fine passing skills and quickness of thought and decision.  The attack petered out in the visitors’ twenty-two where they were awarded a penalty. 

It took until the ninth minute for the first score, the ball again being moved wide for Sam Smith to evade the defenders and score wide out on the left.  Jewell, almost from the touchline, missed the conversion, as he was to do four more times in the match from equally difficult positions. 

Quins continued and to attack and only four minutes later an intelligent pass from Mamyika put De Wet Barry in under the posts for the second try and with Jewell adding the points the lead stretched to 12 – 0. From the restart Quins gave away another penalty that Cozens failed to turn into points and Quins resumed their attacking pressure on the Bath defence..

A fine break by new Academy No.8, Chris York took play deep into Bath territory and good pass to Manyika changed the direction of the attack and the fly-half’s simple pass put De Wet Barry in for the third try. Jewell added the conversion.

There were some anxious moments when a penalty allowed Bath to set up an attacking lineout close to the Quins’ line and the catch and drive that followed was strongly and staunchly defended with Bath gaining only a five-metre scrum.  A reset was followed by a penalty awarded against Bath and the danger was cleared.   But the referee’s patience shortened and Chris York was shown a yellow card for an offence at a ruck as the match approached the half-hour.

Despite being reduced to fourteen men, Quins resumed their attacks, probing the Bath defence and almost scored again.  Though stopped, a penalty allowed Quins to set up a lineout and a catch and drive which eventually saw a mass of forwards surge over the line.  The try was awarded to Ollie Kohn. Jewell missed with the conversion from wide out but the bonus point was secured and Quins now led 24  - 0. 

A further yellow card reduced Quins to thirteen men as a newly shaven-headed Simon Keogh was sent to the bin for an offence that few present, including the player, could identify.  It made no difference because the forwards began to exert concerted pressure and Ricky Nebbett was pushed over for the fifth try so that Quins led  29 – 0 at half-time.

The second half opened with a prolonged Quins attack with the ball being moved rapidly through the hands.  It was, perhaps, one pass too obvious from Manyika that allowed George Hughes, the Bath centre, to intercept the ball and outpace the Quins’ backs in a fifty-metre dash for the try.  Cozens converted and Bath had their only score of the match.

The score seemed to encourage resistance and despite Quins being back to full strength Bath held their runners and defended staunchly.   After fifteen minutes Quins had a scrum only 10 metres in front of the posts with a large blind side and one that Bath failed to cover adequately as the ball came swiftly from the scrum and out to Charlie Ambrose on the wing who finished easily.  Jewell again missed from near the touchline.  The score was now 34 – 7.

Quins continue to exert pressure on the defence with deft handling and determined running.  An exciting move by Smith, Jewell and Keogh nearly produced a score but was stopped short of the line.  A break by Bath took play down onto the Quins line where stern defence again prevented a score and Quins broke clear after turning over possession.

A yellow card for a Bath replacement who late tackled Keogh who had already chipped over the defence and was following to score, reduced Bath to fourteen men and was possibly the reason why from a scrum in the Bath twenty-two, Quins were able to move the ball out on the blind side from So’oialo to Jewell and to an unmarked Simon Keogh on the right wing.

As injury time arrived, Quins launched another attack down the left and when Smith was stopped, good ball retention and passing saw Keogh through on the left wing for his second try.  Jewell successfully added the conversion with the last kick of the match.

There were excellent performances from York and Smith among others and particularly from Ryan Manyika. He is certainly the smallest and most fragile looking rugby player seen at this level, but his passing, speed of decision and ability to get his backs moving was excellent.  He tackles above his weight.  It was undoubtedly a man of the match performance. 

Harlequins A: 15. Charlie Amesbury, 14. Simon Keogh, 13. De Wet Barry, 12. Seb Jewell, 11. Sam Smith, 10. Ryan Manyika, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Aston Croall, 2. Chris Brooker, 3. Ricky Nebbett, 4. Ollie Kohn, 5. James Inglis, 6. George Robson, 7. Tom Sargeant, 8. Chris Yorke
Replacements: 16. Micky Pointing, 17. Dan Frazier, 18. John Brooks, 19. George Swinburn, 20. Alex Leo, 21. Toby Guyett, 22. Seb Stegmann 

Referee: M. Tutty

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