Amateurs lose to Old Abbotstonians 3-13
By Hillary Carr October 27 2004
A crushing blow for the Amateurs’ morale was served up by Old Abbotstonians in the league fixture last Saturday played in dismally wet conditions on a perfect pitch at The Stoop.
A crushing blow for the Amateurs’ morale was served up by Old Abbotstonians in the league fixture last Saturday played in dismally wet conditions on a perfect pitch at The Stoop.
The game was always destined to be a grudge match with the Amatuers leading the table and OAs in second place, so there was no shortage of passion in both ranks. Simply put, OAs were the better-drilled team on the day. The two sides were evenly matched for size and pace; in fact Quins probably boasted the heavier pack, but Old Abbotstonians constantly spoiled set ball with by wheeling the scrum and their lineout variations ensured clean possession for their backs.
It was nip and tuck most of the way through the first half. Quins failed to capitalise on an early opportunity to take the lead when Webster put a penalty kick just shy of the left upright after ten minutes. After 17 minutes and much pressure from OAs, Quins’ second row Tom Curry was sin-binned for an infringement and they scored from the resulting penalty. OAs maintained the assault on the Amateurs’ defence, Quins often relying on the reliable boot of Ross Webster to clear the danger time and again. More OAs pressure then resulted in a penalty try being awarded under the posts, which was only just converted to give them a 10-0 lead. Despite a late penalty converted by Webster to keep the Amateurs within one converted score, Quins faced a serious challenge to recover in the second half playing against the elements.
The second half was again a very balanced affair between the sides. Quins never really looked as though they could get their back line away, often being caught behind the gain line or failing to make the final pass count through poor handling. OAs used the elements well, with probing kicks downfield or by gaining yardage from the countless penalties conceded by the Amateurs. As the second half evaporated, so Quins structure seemed to desert them and they never looked like scoring. Far too often Quins took the wrong option from penalties or kicked away possession when calmer heads were called for against a slick opposition. Eight minutes from time John Fairweather was sin-binned and the opponents’ converted penalty was the only score of the second half.
This first league defeat may serve as a good reminder for the Amateurs who need to rally quickly with their place at the top of the table still intact on the margin of points scored; but Uxbridge will be heartened by this defeat of the Amateurs - they lie third in the table and are Quins next opponents away this Saturday.
1. Fairweather 2. Glanville 3. Newman 4. Curry 5. Wall 6. Farrant 7. Thompson 8. Kurdi
9. Wigginton 10. Webster (Capt) 11. Williams 12. Hurst 13. Wallace 14. Shaw 15. Coyle
16. Hugall 17. Shepherd 18. Sterck
Quins Scorer: Penalty: Webster
It was nip and tuck most of the way through the first half. Quins failed to capitalise on an early opportunity to take the lead when Webster put a penalty kick just shy of the left upright after ten minutes. After 17 minutes and much pressure from OAs, Quins’ second row Tom Curry was sin-binned for an infringement and they scored from the resulting penalty. OAs maintained the assault on the Amateurs’ defence, Quins often relying on the reliable boot of Ross Webster to clear the danger time and again. More OAs pressure then resulted in a penalty try being awarded under the posts, which was only just converted to give them a 10-0 lead. Despite a late penalty converted by Webster to keep the Amateurs within one converted score, Quins faced a serious challenge to recover in the second half playing against the elements.
The second half was again a very balanced affair between the sides. Quins never really looked as though they could get their back line away, often being caught behind the gain line or failing to make the final pass count through poor handling. OAs used the elements well, with probing kicks downfield or by gaining yardage from the countless penalties conceded by the Amateurs. As the second half evaporated, so Quins structure seemed to desert them and they never looked like scoring. Far too often Quins took the wrong option from penalties or kicked away possession when calmer heads were called for against a slick opposition. Eight minutes from time John Fairweather was sin-binned and the opponents’ converted penalty was the only score of the second half.
This first league defeat may serve as a good reminder for the Amateurs who need to rally quickly with their place at the top of the table still intact on the margin of points scored; but Uxbridge will be heartened by this defeat of the Amateurs - they lie third in the table and are Quins next opponents away this Saturday.
1. Fairweather 2. Glanville 3. Newman 4. Curry 5. Wall 6. Farrant 7. Thompson 8. Kurdi
9. Wigginton 10. Webster (Capt) 11. Williams 12. Hurst 13. Wallace 14. Shaw 15. Coyle
16. Hugall 17. Shepherd 18. Sterck
Quins Scorer: Penalty: Webster
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
More headlines
- The Mighty Quins March On: Harlequins 30-23 London Irish
- LV= Cup Report: CARDIFF BLUES 45 - 40 HARLEQUINS
- LV= Cup Report: HARLEQUINS 9 - 19 LEICESTER TIGERS
- A League Report: HARLEQUINS A 34 - 3 BATH UNITED
- Heineken Cup Round 5: HARLEQUINS 20 - 14 GLOUCESTER
- Cardiff Blues coach - Sunday 5th February 2012
- NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 24 - 3 HARLEQUINS
- The Great Escape: EXETER CHIEFS 9 - 11 HARLEQUINS
- BIG GAME 4 - HARLEQUINS 11 - 19 SARACENS
latest threads
Poll
