From the start of this match, the Amateurs built on the strengths of last week’s hard-fought victory against London French, corrected some of the weaknesses and capitalised on a weak Quintin defence. 

First full back Ah-Sun opened the scoring after just 5 minutes, coming into the back line to penetrate the defence after a succession of three phases of rucks by the scrum. Ten minutes later, the backs made good use of the width of the Stoop pitch to stretch the Quintin back line. Phil Thompson who had constantly harried the opposition from open-side wing forward took a quick tap penalty and passed to outside centre Greg Birbeck to dive over. Ross Webster converted.

As the team started to exude confidence it was clear that Webster’s return to fly half had a controlling influence on the team and the game, whether setting the back line in motion, side-stepping inside his marker or exploiting the wind to place the ball strategically back in the opposition 22. To single out one performance would be unfair though given that all 15 (plus the subs) all played well above themselves. The back row constantly floored the opposition with ball in hand and the forwards’ rucking and mauling was exemplary, as was the backs’ display of open running and tackling.

After 23 minutes the forwards took their turn to increase the score, prop Andy Lawrence driving over from close range, which Webster converted. James Dewar made the most of his afternoon making successive breaks from the lineout or in open play to set up Nick Wooton with a try after 27 minutes, then scored himself from a quick tap penalty and a dive for the line. That was after Stevens had increased the score himself from a forward drive after prop Terry Newman slipped him the ball from 5 metres out.

Dewar and ah-Sun were majestic in baffling and breaking through the opposition defences, with an interchange of switch, dummies and side-steps to run the ball fully 60 metres, but the team failed this time to convert the effort into points and Quins went in at half time 34 points to nil.

The second half continued where the first ended. Quins were having a Field Day in their first game of the season at The Stoop. Dewar, Thompson, Ed Sterck, Birbeck, Kurdi (coming on as replacement for Thompson and immediately making his presence felt) and Wallace added six tries to the same tally in the first half, five of them converted by Webster, as the Amateurs ran rings around Quintin to run in 74-0 winners.

Man of the Match was difficult to award with so many candidates vying for the nomination, but Phil Ah-Sun was ultimately awarded the accolade. 

Team: 1. Lawrence 2. Fairweather 3. Newman 4. Dewar 5. Sterck 6. Farrant 7. Thompson 8. Stevens (Vice-Captain) 9. Wigginton 10. Webster (Captain) 11. Wallace 12. Hurst 13. Birbeck 14. Wooton 15. Ah-Sun 16. Kurdi 17. Roberts 18. Shaw

Quins scorers:

Tries: Birbeck (2), Dewar (2), Ah-Sun, Kurdi, Sterck, Stevens, Thompson, Wallace, Wooton. Conversions: Webster (7). 

If you would like to join Harlequins Amateurs, please phone Hillary Carr on 07767 383095 or frank Cottrell on 07747 786288.

Next game: 9^th October. Herts & Middx Division 2 South league match vs. Belsize Park (Away).

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