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Harlequin Pack Defeats park
By DM Kirk-Sargeant October 8 2002
Total scrum domination was the key to Harlequin Amateurs' win over Belsize Park according to Coach Geoff Ashby. During a sometimes scrappy game, Ashby praised the forwards saying “at times the Belsize pack were going back at such a pace, if there had been a speed camera they would have got a ticket”
Up, up and away !
Up, up and away! Benn Richards heads skyward to win the ball lifted by Man of the Match, Andrew Lawrence.
©DM Kirk-Sargeant
The 1st team won 15 - 0 putting them 2nd in the Herts/Middlesex 3 South league behind Sudbury & London Springboks who have also won 3 games but are ahead on points.

Quins prevailed over Belsize despite a multitude of handling mistakes during the game. Quality ball was dropped, stopped and strewn across the park. Fortunately Belsize didn’t use these mistakes to their advantage.

A strong scrum made all the difference however Ashby gave credit to Belsize Park for their gritty game.

“It’s league rugby and while we have come away with the points we will always be faced with the best side the opposition can produce because of our name. We seem to be the team the opposition want to not only beat, but punish because of who we are. It’s not logical but there you are.”
They did not succeed this time in putting us of our game despite the mistakes which were made in our back row.”

The game got off to a bad start with ‘Rocky’ Aldwinkle sidelined with a shoulder injury two minutes after kickoff. Quins came back quickly with Russell Wigginton setting up Matt Jones who squeezed over the line for their first try, converted by Russell Smith.

While game play was mostly confined to Belsize Park’s 22 during the first half, Quins could not capitalise on their domination of the scrum. Both centres came close to scoring but lacked the legs to get past the Belsize defence.

Smith and Lock Benn Richards were instrumental in setting up Quins second try before half time. A precision cross field kick from Smith went into touch 10 metres from the try line. Richards won the lineout despite being pulled down allowing hooker Jon Fairweather to flop over for an easy try.

Twelve minutes into the second half, a penalty gave Smith the opportunity to add the final points of the game.
From then on the game swung back and forth between ends with close runs from both sides, and no-one able to convert the pressure into points. Quins played the last 10 minutes with 14 men after losing Captain Andy Robinson with a hand injury and not able to replace him as the regulation 3 substitutes had already been used.
Ashby awarded Man of the Match to prop Andrew Lawrence who he dubbed ‘the Rock’ of the game. Despite a second crack to the head forcing him off the pitch 20 minutes before the final whistle, Ashby said he was the driving force in the scrum.


The Harlequin Cavaliers also won a hard fought but enjoyable game against Kew Occasionals 20 - 29 at Richmond on Saturday.
With 10 minutes to go, The Cavaliers were behind 19 - 20, but came back furiously with a converted try and penalty in the dying minutes.
Manager player Jarrod Smith was pleased - and relieved - with the win. “ With a few more games under our belt we will hopefully not leave it to the last minute to make our run ! That should help the stress levels. However I think we need to work on our fitness as well.”
The match between the Wanderers and London Scottish was cancelled.

Next week the 1st team meet Osterley in the league. It will be an away match with the kickoff scheduled for 3pm at their ground in Jersey Road, Osterley. The Wanderers are home at the College pitch to Wasps and the Cavaliers will play Rosslyn Park Jurassics in Richmond Park. Any Harlequin supporters not following the team to Caerphilly are more than welcome to come along and cheer us on.


1st team squad against Belsize Park:
Philipe Au-Sun, Colin Crowther, Matt Jones, James Hayden, Kwasi Appah, Russell Smith, Russell Wigginton, John Lawrence, Jon Fairweather, Andrew Lawrence, Dave Wells, Benn Richards, Andrew Robinson (Capt), Jon Aldwinckle, Ian Langman, Matt Stevens, Matt Pead, Terry Newman, Dave Francis, Hamid Zayouna, Henry Quinlan

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And Finally….
Highlight of the day was the flagrant display of underwear in the bar afterwards from Captain Andy Robinson who - as a Kiwi - was naturally delighted with the Union Jack tee-shirt and thong given to him for his birthday. The thong especially was a winner in the fashion stakes.

Happy Birthday to Andy who celebrated his 30th on Sunday.

After the game many of the Amateur team belted down the 316 to catch the last 15 minutes of the Ladies match against Rosslyn Park. Well done for a match well played - and we mean that sincerely, envious as we are that you got to play a game on the hallowed ground.

And congratulations go Andrew Slade and his partner Simona who are now the proud parents of a wee boy born 25 September - yet to be named - weighing in at 7lbs 10. According to proud Dad Andrew, he is already showing the necessary skills to make him a Quin of the future.

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