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Quins Amateurs In Try Scoring Bonanza
By Chris Kelly, Team Manager January 20 2003
Harlequin Amateurs got it together to rock Northolt back from whence they came, in a game in which Harlequins served up some delicious, and at times, appetising moments to savour, winning the league match 49 - 8.
Quins gave a penalty away within the first 2 minutes of the game starting, in our own 22. Fortunately, 2 minutes into the game the Northolt kicker had clearly not done his laces up and missed the sitter. Quins were encamped in their 22 for some time when Kwasi Appah received a pass after a series of good handling skills down the line, and ran a good 30 yards only to be pulled up 5 yards from Northolt's try line by a great cover tackle. Quins won the line out and exerted enough pressure to force Northolt to capitulate and were penalised for handling the ball on the deck. Brad Westcott duly converted, making the score 3-0 to Quins after 12 minutes.

The forwards at this point were beginning to get the upper hand, winning good quick ball and moving it away from their heavier opposition. This was the game plan right from the off, however it took Quins a good 20 minutes to believe in themselves. After contesting a line out again in Northolt's 22 after another startling run by Kwasi Appah, Quins stamped their authority on the game and delivered quick ball, which was swiftly handled down the line with the ever present Billy Katiyo running round to make the final pass to Brandon van der Westhuizen out on the wing, unconverted, the score was 8-0.

Again from the restart Quins forwards started to dominate virtually every facet of play, rucking and mauling like a heard of wild Buffalo intent on one thing only - the ball. This again resulted in the ball going down the line with a perfect time switch from full back Philippe Ah-Sun to Kwasi Appah who cut infield and scored, unconverted we were now leading 13-0.

With half time imminent it was time for the forwards to display their skills with a good passage of support play from Capt Andy Robinson, Billy Katiyo and Paul Jensen which resulted in Benn Richards driving through a packed Northolt try line to score under the posts. Brad Westcott converted this to make the score 20-0.

Against the run of play from the restart Quins were penalised for what seemed an innocuous infringement. This allowed Northolt a chance to get on the scoresheet, which they did from a very good kick. When the Ref's whistle blew for half time it was Quins 20, Northolt 3.

Andy Makes A Break
Prop Andrew Lawrence makes a break in the match against Kew Occasionals

It's strange what the after effects of team talks at half time seem to offer up...especially when Quins on this occasion were clearly on top and the opposition were clearly blowing big time. Well, for the first twenty minutes of the second half Quins found themselves on the back foot. The Northolt pack had had their fill of air at halt time and were a revitalised unit on their second wind. During those 20 minutes Quins lost control of the match and got embroiled in playing down to Northolt's tactics.

Finally, Scrumhalf Matt Pead made good ground from our 22 with a bit of a darting run and a great kick which found touch in Northolts 22. Quins won the line out in Northolts 22, released a quick ball, fly half Ben Wigley broke through and shipped the ball out through to James Williams, supported again by Billy Katiyo who distributed the ball out further to Kwasi Appah who scored his second try. This was converted by Brad Westcott, a great kick from near the touch line. 27-3.

Prop Terry Newman after putting a tremendous effort throughout the game and after several good driving runs was substituted for Graham Blackmore.

Quins had just about recovered from their somewhat stodgy period and went about the business destroying the oppositions fight back,. The forwards regained composure and Tom Cooper, Mark Hillier and Ed Sterck along with the other forwards really started to squeeze and drain the opposition's
spirit down, and finally out.

3 further tries were scored by Quins during the remainder of the game. One of which saw a delighted Capt Andy Robinson out pace Kwasi Appah to deny Kwasi his 3rd try Only one of the final three tries was converted.

Whilst Northolt did score finally in the 34th minute it was as a result of their dogged determination not to throw the towel in - but was also a lapse of concentration by Quins. Their try was not converted and the final try still to come was a beauty.

Quins, in their own 22, won a lineout on the nearside of the pitch to set up a second phase situation. Billy Katiyo picked up to Fly half Ben Wigley who fed the ball to a blistering full back Philippe Ah-Sun who split Northolt's defence line to run in a great but simple try. The game can be a thing of beauty to behold when the basics are done right. The final score was 49 - 8.

Next weeks game will be against London French, which will be played at the Brunel University campus sit. Kick off is 2.15.

Previously....
The Harlequin Wanderers lost the week before in a friendly to Kew Occasionals. A composite team made up of 1st team and Wanderers combined bad luck with the disadvantage of unfamiliarity with each other to lose 48 - 8.
A spookily similar score to the win against Northolt this week. It was the first game to be played by the Amateurs this year since the Christmas break. A penalty kick from Brad Westcott and a try from Brandon van der Westhuizen gave Quins their only points.

Playing in frosty conditions, Manager Chris Kelly was moved to comment - rather poetically - that ' the scrunch of ice underneath their boots echoed the crunching limbs and creaking joints giving way after an excess of Christmas festivities. '


Captain Pat Barrow was philosophical with Quins having trounced Kew in their previous two outings. "Kew were particularly sharp - they had a better collective approach to the game than we did. They lost the last two games so made a particular effort this time and it paid dividends".

And Finally....
Arrangements for the end of season tour to Amsterdam are in full swing. The squad will fly from Heathrow on Thursday 17 April returning on Sunday 20 April. A full programme of matches and socialising is being arranged. Anyone interested in coming along as a non-playing full-partying supporter is most welcome to contact Chris Kelly on 07947 374 320.

Team squad:
Nick Wootton, Matt Jones, Brandon van der Westhuizen, James Williams, Colin Crowther, Ben Wigley, John Masters, Billy Katiyo, Andrew Robinson, Patrick Barrow, Ed Sterck, Benn Richards, Lucian Roberts, Tom Cooper, Andrew Lawrence, Mark Hillier, Lloyd Chivaz, Sebastian Chapuis, Brad Westcott, Philippe Ah-Sun, Kwasi Appah, Matt Pead, Tom Cooper, Terry Newman, Paul Jensen, Graeme Blackmore

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