Miall (Simon Jones)

Not dissimilar sentiments I’ll wager to most of you who look at this season with fresh enthusiasm. So, at 1:30 we arrived, the ground already bustling to the sound of drums and free flowing beer (although a conspicuous absence of West-Country apple brew was noted). The sun shone on the Stoop again, the jugs were back, the Heineken back-packs had been replaced by Fosters, pork-rolls had made a comeback and all seemed well for the afternoon’s sound thrashing that was in store.

Despite the absence of George Harder on the wing, the prospect of a newly fit Rob Jewell and the new combination of Mel Deane and Josh Taumalolo at centre provoked discussions of just how well Quins would punch holes in the Irish three-quarter line and steam toward another bonus point. Irish have not beaten Quins in the league, either home or away, for three seasons now. So it was not an unfair assumption that so long as we could play as physically as in past years and turn over the odd ball, as we have so well over the past two games, Rob, Ugo and Gavin Duffy would be on hand to finish the job.

So as kick-off approached and I settled in to write my notes for this article, I had a broad grin across my face…

However, this was not to last. As Mad Max read out the team lists the first hiccough of the afternoon crept into my otherwise unblemished game plan. Instead of Martin Fox we were to have the pleasure of a certain Mr S. Lander to oversee proceedings. The crowd obviously agreed, as with 10 minutes to go until the start of the match the predictable chants of ‘The Referee’s a Lander’ began.

...a Lander (Robshew)

Anyhow, not one to shy away from giving a man a second (or is that 12th) chance, we looked to the game and Irish kicked off. An awkward high ball was taken by Ace and as Irish ploughed into him Quins were awarded a penalty for Irish coming in from the side of the maul. This was to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Irish had obviously woken up to the fact that for three years Quins had outplayed them physically and this time they were not going to let the same happen again.
 

Well taken lineout (AH)

As with Rotherham last week, Irish had noted that Quins are too often to be caught napping for the first quarter of the match and some excellent quick ball out wide saw the electric Paul Sackey off down the touch line. Sackey shot past Ugo (again, not in my game plan) only to be nobbled by the ever present Gavin Duffy. More quick ball saw a drop-goal attempt by Barry Everitt which fortunately, with only a couple of minutes gone, slid past the posts (although the majority of Irish fans in the South Stand seemed to think it had gone through). Quins’ eagerness to get the ball back up the other end saw Gavin Duffy fumble the ball at the ensuing 22 drop-out and the familiar sight of Quins pinned back on their own line resulted.

More quick ball saw Quins produce some huge tackles, but carelessness at the ruck, where Quins were caught coming in over the top, awarded Irish two quick penalties in front of the posts, the second of which was converted by an obliging Mr Everitt after 8 minutes.

Soon after the restart a long kick forward by Paul Burke saw a mouth-watering one-on-one chase between Paul Sackey and Ugo which clearly had Sackey beaten and flustered as he fumbled the ball on the floor but managed just to get it back to Michael Horak to clear their lines. The ball came back to Quins and was sent out wide where Irish were penalised for offside after a tackle on Josh Taumalolo just to the right of the Irish posts. As ever, Burkey’s boot did the trick, 3-3 after 11 minutes.

Burkey the boot (Robshew)

Quins seemed prepared early on in the game to play the ball in the forwards with a couple of thundering mauls up towards the half way line from some excellent line out ball from Bill Davison. However, the precise ball-handling of the past two weeks was not evident, as Irish disrupted Quins’ eagerness to get the ball out wide to the wings (Ugo in particular), the result being a number of consecutive knock-ons by Quins.

Our lineout ball remained clean, but at 20 minutes, Simon Miall was left on the floor after a lineout on the half way line and was worryingly stretchered from the field to be replaced by Jim Evans. Ugo was also limping on the half way line after a crunching tackle just moments earlier by Irish N0.10, Barry Everitt.

Miall (Robshew)

Shortly afterwards, Quins were penalised for the fourth time for coming in over the top at the ruck and the Irish kick was dropped by a rather nervous looking Rob Jewell just inside Quins’ 22. For all those sitting in the South East corner, it was clear to see that the ball went backwards, but in true Lander style, he called a knock-on awarding Irish another scrum within the Quins’ 22. Irish won good ball but at the tackle, Mike Worsley who seemed to be playing like a number 6, stole the ball and Quins were granted a reprieve when again Irish were caught offside at the ruck.

10 or so minutes of what appeared more like tennis than rugby followed, with neither side able to make impressions on some ferocious defence. Irish were finally caught with hands in at the ruck and Quins, in much the same position as the last penalty, opted to kick for touch. Burkey slotted the kick into the corner with no more than 4 inches to spare. More good ball at the lineout from Jim Evans saw Quins drive into an unmovable obstacle that was the Irish defence and after two attempts, Irish were penalised for pulling down the maul. Again, with tails up, Quins opted to kick for the corner. Clean ball at the lineout saw Quins try the same manoeuvre but the ball came loose and with numbers out wide, Irish began a charge downfield. Mel Deane and Ugo worked excellently to get back and make a try-saving tackle.

5 minutes later, the Irish were again penalised for coming in offside at the ruck and again, Quins elected to kick for touch, but a poor line out saw Irish steal the ball. Quins applied massive defensive pressure and forced the Irish to hold the ball on the floor, giving Quins a penalty, which they kicked to touch.

Some quick ball through Jim Evans saw the ball race out wide through the backs and with room running out and Gavin Duffy standing too deep, Ugo passed to Harvey the invisible winger in his first appearance of the season.

Possession was now largely with Quins but some admirable Irish defence saw some searing runs through the middle by Mel Deane stopped and with little support, the momentum was quickly removed. Again the Irish managed to turn over the ball from the isolated Quins player.

Loose Ball (AH)

Quins made one last attempt to move the ball upfield but a poor kick from Paul Burke was marked by Michael Horak who kicked straight into touch for half time to be called on 44 minutes.

Half Time Score (3-3)

Discussions at half-time surrounded the relative predictability of Quins play with Ben Willis so keen to get the ball wide to Ugo that the impressive running skills of Gavin Duffy through the middle were barely utilised. Similarly, a ritual demolition of Mr Lander’s decision that after 10 penalties awarded against Irish (mostly for offside infringements) not a single Irish player had taken a deserved ten-minute rest in the sin-bin.

The second half continued much the same as the first with neither side able to penetrate the committed defence of the opposition.

Despite bearing up well in the latter stages of the first half, the Quins’ lineout, which has appeared weak this season compared to previous years (feel free to disagree as I am sure you will) began to suffer in the absence of Simon Miall and the second consecutive Quins lineout was won by Irish against the head.

Clean Irish ball from their own lineout set Nick Greenstock free for the first time in the match, but an excellent tackle from Paul Burke held him back at the half way line. However, whilst Irish regrouped and prepared to free the ball to Barry Everitt, a certain Mr Tiatia was seen charging in with his shoulder from the side of the ruck straight into Mr Greenstock (now if that’s what he does to his friends I’d hate to be his enemy), a move from which Nick failed to get up. We now learn, he is being treated for a broken collarbone. Whilst neither the touch-judges or Slander noticed the obvious infringement, I fear that the RFU’s citing commissioner will not be as charitable and once again, we will find ourselves suffering for Ace’s indiscretion. Greenstock was replaced on 43 minutes by Mark Cannon.

Some aggressive attacking play by Mel Deane and Ugo was rewarded 8 minutes into the second half by from looked like a deliberated knock-on by Irish, but Slander’s abysmal hand signals did not make this clear. Burkey opted for goal and made no mistake as Quins took first blood of the second half 6-3.

Immediately afterwards, a penalty was awarded to Irish for what I think was obstruction (but given Slanders signals, who can be sure) but Everitt sliced the ball left of the posts to let Quins off the hook.

Tensions were obviously rising as straight from the drop-out, Mel Deane recovered the ball and was deliberately high tackled in front of Irish’s posts by Barry Everitt, who received a stern telling off by Lander but no yellow card. Burkey made no mistake and the score moved to 9-3.

A brief reprieve from the nail-biting rugby came as Slander enjoyed a moment of ‘male bonding’ on the half way line for all in the East Stand to see. (I think he will claim it was his headset that had become disconnected and the touch judge was merely helping him to reconnect it, but I’m not so sure).

Quins started to put together some good phases of play, but lacked the finishing power through the centre. On the Irish 22, Burkey stepped back for a drop goal, saw the Irish closing him down so put his head down and again punched into the Irish defence. Not to be outdone and after a relatively quiet first game, Josh Taumalolo stepped into Burkey’s shoes and on 20 minutes fired a drop goal straight through the middle of the posts. 12-3 and some welcome daylight.

Messy Lineout (Binky)

The Irish then upped their game and after several phases of excellent play on Quins’ try-line, fell foul of their famous inability to finish tries when Ben Willis called for the ball from a charging Ryan Strudwick. The Irish captain fell for the call and willingly passed to the Quins man to let us off the hook.

Ugo’s only blistering run of the game was unfortunately sideways, across the pitch, but when Irish were caught again with their hands in at the ruck (please note Mr Lander) Quins were awarded another penalty, which Burkey obligingly slotted through the posts to make his tally 4 from 4. 15-3.

Irish played the ball up field and after Quins were penalised for pushing in the lineout, the Irish kicked to touch on the Quins 5 metre line. Some excellent quick ball back to Ed Thrower saw him finally break a weak Quins defence and he scored a converted try to bring Irish back to within 5 points. 15-10 with 33 minutes gone.

The game finished off with both teams unable to break through more excellent defence and I, for one, was relieved when the final whistle blew after 44 minutes.

Final Score Harlequins 15 : London Irish 10

Quins will be pleased to have come away with a win from a far more aggressive and physical Irish team than we have played for some time now. On the flip side, Irish will be disappointed to come away with only 1 point when they had the lion’s share of scoring opportunities – yet again, their finishing let them down.

In the after match press conference, Mark Evans heaped praise on Irish for starting both halves ‘Like a train’ but singled out Andre Vos, his man of the match, for his excellent defence and 5 or 6 key tackles which halted the Irish advances, describing him as ‘fantastic’. Although he described our display as ‘ not very pretty’ he said that he never really thought we would lose the match.

Discussions centred on the injury to Simon Miall, which Evans revealed was extremely serious (ruptured knee ligaments). It had been caused whilst jumping in the lineout and coming into awkward contact with a prop (one that we assumed would be wearing a green jersey, but was revealed to be Jon Dawson). “He will be operated on tomorrow, but we expect him to be out for the rest of the season”. This is of course shocking news for not only Simon, who has played impressively in both the set-piece and in open play this season, but also for the Quins’ selectors who until the return of Rudzki, are left with only two Locks.

The absence of any yellow card for either the constant infringements by Irish at the side of the ruck or for Ace’s ‘interesting’ use of the shoulder again saw the finger pointed at Mr Lander. ‘The Irish came very close on a number of occasions… they trod a very fine line... I genuinely didn’t see Ace’s charge’ was Ev’s response.

Talk then moved onto how, with a sell out crowd by Tuesday afternoon, the gate attendance was only 7,500. Ev’s introduced the idea of the pooling system of unused season tickets to the press but for a club such as Quins, the feeling is clearly that 7,500 is simply not enough.

Evans contemplating (Robshew)

After a call from his mum and the news that we were still top of the league, Ev’s and Scotty left with uncharacteristic smiles on their faces.

So, after so much expectation, The Scambles’ feeling is that Quins played extremely well to come away with a win after Irish had obviously come into the game understanding that nothing other that 110% physical commitment would do.

However, as we move to Saracens next week, I fear that the chances Quins happily capitalised on in the previous matches will become fewer and farther between. Without variety of play driven by Ben Willis, we might again start to rely too heavily on the boot of Paul Burke …only time will tell.

As for our problems at second row, we wish Simon a speedy recovery and pray that Karl makes a return soon as with so little choice (well none to be precise) for locks, the strain may start to show.

We were delighted to see the Management had clearly taken heed of the grumbles about the bar and food arrangements at the Wasps match. The new refreshment arrangements, coupled with the ever friendly and jovial Irish supporters, made for a fantastic afternoon at the stoop – may it long continue!

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