Triumphant 1st team

Knowing that they needed a strong start to the season gave the 1st team an impetus and urgency, which overcame their nerves and translated intro tries. Newly promoted opponents London Tribes held the Amateurs at bay until Russell Smith touched down 23 minutes into the first half, followed closely by Matt Stevens. Both tries were unconverted with Tribes charging down the second attempt.

Quins had the advantage of a dominant pack with Tribes having difficulty in getting any possession or winning the ball in rucks and mauls.

Persistent defence kept the Tribes at bay as they counter attacked but an intercepted ball gave Quins the opportunity to feed the ball out wide enabling Centre Matt Jones to run in under the posts – A feat repeated by Wing Kwasi Appah who scorched the grass down the side line to touch down with no-one in pursuit. Russell Wigginton converted both tries. Just before half time, Tribes got a breakaway and outran Quins defence to score their only converted try of the game making the score 7 –24.

Quins continued the second half in the same vein with Captain Andy Robinson running in a try before Kwasi Appah crossed for his second of the game. Hamid Zayouna made the final try of the match with Russell Wigginton converting once more.

An injury to the Tribes tighthead prop saw the game transferred to an adjoining pitch for the final 20 minutes, and because of a lack of front row reserves by London Tribes, the scrums went uncontested.



This meant the Quins pack lost their forward advantage and coupled with the delays, led to an unsettled and scrappy last 20 minutes with tempers flaring and Tribes losing a man to the sin bin.
Despite this, Coach Geoff Ashby was pleased with the teams’ first outing in the league making special mention of Malcolm Wall who was also named Quins Man of the Match. “ With Big Ben Richards unavailable, Will ‘solid as a Wall ’ made sure no cracks appeared in the side”.

Harlequin Amateurs 1st team : Nicholas Wootton, Matt Jones, Phillipe As-Sun, Russell Smith, Kwasi Appah, Russell Wigginton, Andrew Lawrence, Jon Fairweather, John Lawrence, Malcolm Wall, Dave Wells, Matthew Hunt, Andy Robinson ( C ), Matt Stevens, Hamid Zayouna, Billy Katiyo, Terry Newman


The Wanderers also did Harlequins proud when they beat Camberley in their first game of the London Senior Merit Table. Taking over the mantle from the 1st team, the Wanderers battled a close game to win 11 – 5. Captain Pat Barrow was very pleased with the opener saying it was based on a great forward effort and sound defence in the backs.

According to Barrow, Harlequins made a superb forward effort in the first half, with the Kiwi contingent of the team excelling in the set scrums and rucks. Quins kept Camberley penned down in their own half for long periods but failed to capitalise. A penalty by new player Brandon Hill put the Wanderers in front 3 – 0 at half time.
Quins started the second half equally strongly in the face of a redoubled Camberley effort – undeterred that their number 8 was sinbinned for fighting. Brandon Hill added another 3 points before slick hands in the backs put Ben Fretwell over in the corner.

An injured Hadleigh Graves gave Quins a moment’s disruption in the lineouts which Camberley took advantage of in a catch and drive which earned them a try.

From that point Quins reasserted their grip on the game keeping Camberley at bay. Despite a late surge, the Wanderers held on for the win 11 – 5. Man of the Match for the Wanderers is shared between Brandon Hill and Wayne Wilkinson.

Harlequin Amateurs Wanderers team: Brandon Hill, Ben Fretwell, Will Tapley, James Haydon, Lloyd Chivaz, Brad Westcott, Dave Francis, Alan O’Donald, Graeme Blackmore, Craig Grant, Jay Campbell, Pat Barrow ( C ), Colin Meades, Charles McLiven, Jarrod Smith, Wayne Wilkinson, Hadleigh Graves

This Saturday the 1st team have a bye, but The Wanderers are playing Rosslyn Park Development Squad on the College Pitch next to the Stoop, kickoff 3pm, and The Cavaliers play their first match of the season away to London Irish III.

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