By AlanQuin
March 17 2004

A win by two points over London Wasps at Rosslyn Park on Monday evening, in an exciting match in which the lead changed back and forth throughout the evening, kept Harlequin 2nd XV firmly at the top of the Zurich A league table. A look at the team sheet showed that Wasps were determined to have their revenge for the heavy defeat inflicted upon them when they came to The Stoop. The presence of Roiser, Erinle, Ireland and Richards in the starting line-up together with Kenny Logan on the bench was evidence of their serious intent.

Quins had selection problems with Bell, Jarvis, Parker, and Reay away with England U21. Paul Burke is still unlikely to play against Leicester on Friday evening because of injury and Josh Taumololo is suffering from back and hamstring problems. With management not wishing to risk Andy Dunne ahead of the Tigers match, Tom Williams was pressed into service at fly-half.

Quins intentions were also clear. They wanted the win. From the first line-out a rolling maul resulted in a penalty which Williams kicked successfully. Only a minute later a break from Williams and a long pass across to the right put Horstmann over for the try. The conversion from the touchline fell very short, but Quins were leading 0 – 8.

Almost from the restart, Wasps were awarded a penalty which Defty kicked from 40 metres and five minutes later Wasps scored two tries through Clarke and their pack drove Mackenzie over the line from close range. Defty converted the first score but missed with his second kick and after some thirteen frenetic minutes Wasps were leading 15 – 8.

In the next fifteen minutes, Quins hit back with three tries of their own. First a fine break fro Tom Williams took play almost to the Wasps line and his chip through was touched down by Moore. The conversion was missed. Then a splendid run by Moore was stopped ten metres short of the try-line. He was able to pass out of the tackle to Jones who passed to Horstmann and then to Mike Brown for an excellent try. Again Williams’ kick was unsuccessful.

The third of these tries fell to Davison who was first to a bobbling ball which had been chipped through by Williams and bounced off the post. The conversion was successful. The forwards were now beginning to assert some dominance over the Wasps pack and their rolling maul was working particularly well. A maul which went 25 metres towards the Wasps line resulted in a penalty which Williams kicked to bring the score to 15 – 28 at the half-hour.

Again Wasps hit back and a tapped penalty in the Quins twenty-two resulted in Rees scoring a try which Defty converted. Then a fine run by Matt Moore and Henry Barratt ended when Moore’s overhead pass was intercepted by Richards who raced 70 metres to score under the posts. The successful conversion put Wasps back in the lead by 29 – 28. But on the point of half-time Quins were awarded a penalty after a high tackle and Williams’ kick took Quins to the dressing-room 29 – 31 ahead.

It was ten minutes into the second half before Quins struck again when another fine rolling maul from a line-out went fully twenty metres and resulted in Luke Sherriff touching down. The conversion was missed. 29 – 36 and Wasps sent for the cavalry bringing Kenny Logan on to strengthen an already formidable back division.

Wasps again retaliated. Willis had a clearance charged down and another interception try was gifted to the opposition. The successful conversion brought the scores level, and immediately from the restart Wasps created a two man overlap on the right which allowed Roiser to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but Wasps led 41 – 36.

Both sides sought to increase the tempo of the game to gain the result. The forwards took the ball up through a number of phases of play until Horstmann was able to force his way through to score under the posts. Williams had a simple conversion and Quins led 41 – 43.

The last minutes of the game brought renewed pressure from Wasps and they had a line-out five meters from the Quins line, but a knock-on brought relief and from the scrum Quins worked the ball upfield into the Wasps half. As the final minute ticked away Quins had a penalty. Williams kick was short and Wasps had an opportunity to run the ball back. Quins defence held firm and the final whistle followed as the ball went out of play.

The match was played at great pace by both teams. The excellence of the Quins pack and the excellent running and handling skills of both forwards and backs made for excellent entertainment. Tom Williams had a good match in his unaccustomed position of fly-half and all the backs exhibited their undoubted talents for the game.

Mark Evans was smiling broadly after the game. The first half, he said, was as good a game of rugby as one could see. It was played, he said, at great pace and with great skill. It was marvellous!

London Wasps: 15. R. Laird, 14. S. Roiser, 13. M. Ireland, 12. A. Erinle, 11. M. Roberts,
10. N. Defty, 9. P. Richards (Capt.), 1. A. McKenzie, 2. B. Gotting, 3. S. Philips, 4. J. Dunne,
5. J. Hart, 6. I. Clarke, 7. T. Rees, 8. Lumby

Replacements: 16. H. Biljon, 17. M. Whitehead, 19. L. Brown, 20. J. Filler, 21. T. French,
22. J. Barrett, 23. R. Shaw, 24. K. Logan

Scorers:
Tries: Clarke, McKenzie, Rees, Richards, Roberts, Roiser
Conversions: Defty (4)
Penalties: Defty

Harlequins: 15. M. Brown, 14. H. Barrett, 13. T. Allen, 12. R. Jewell, 11. M. Moore, 10. T. Williams, 9. B. Willis, 1. C. Jones, 2. J. Hayter, 3. L. Gomez, 4. B. Davison, 5. R. Winters,
6. C. Cracknell, 7. L. Sherriff (Capt.), 8. K. Horstmann

Replacements: 16. C. Dott, 17. T. Muggridge, 18. S. Miall, 19. G. Hart, 20. S. Bemand,
21. S. Crawley

Scorers:
Tries: Horstmann (2), Brown, Davison, Sherriff, Moore
Conversions: Williams (2)
Penalties: Williams (3)