Amateurs beat Uxbridge 6-9
By Chris Kelly November 2 2004
Harlequin Amateurs stuck to the task, and won the day on passion and commitment beating Uxbridge 6 - 9. The conditions for good running rugby where, preparation good, mental aptitude good, Our previous encounters with Uxbridge were a war of attrition up front.
Harlequin Amateurs stuck to the task, and won the day on passion and commitment beating Uxbridge 6 - 9. The conditions for good running rugby where, preparation good, mental aptitude good, Our previous encounters with Uxbridge were a war of attrition up front.
So we knew what we were going to face. Our game plan was to create quick ball from set piece play to our backs, and not get embroiled in mixing it with the opposition forwards in loose play.
The first ten minutes of play showed that Quins were working the plan well, the backs were given plenty of ball, Webster kicking for field position brilliantly, but the Uxbridge defence stood firm, it would only be a matter of time before we broke through,. fifteen minutes into the game Quins were awarded a penalty, which Captain Ross Webster slotted.
From the restart it was Uxbridge who rallied their forwards, they unsettled the Quins forwards and continued to muscle in on Quins weakening control of both, the set and loose play, infringing at every opportunity. The majority of these off side infringements were missed by the referee. Uxbridge had quite clearly decided on their style of play, which was to disrupt us as much as they possibly could in the forwards, they knew were to target and this they did, but we held our discipline and composure in that department.
Quins had succumbed to the Uxbridge level of play, we simply failed to secure enough good control of the ball in all phases resulting in our backs not receiving enough of the ball by which to expose the opposition, and attack with the flair that was in the three quaters. The pressure of play by the Quins forwards for the majority of the 1st half had been in the Uxbridge 22 for at least 70% of the first half. At half time with only 3 points to show for all that effort, we needed to regroup and stamp our authority on how we wanted to play in the 2nd half.
Within 5 minutes of the 2nd half, Uxbridge were awarded a penalty, Quins not releasing, after a kick through by Uxbridge following a Quins spilt ball, this levelled the score. Quins became increasingly frustrated as time drew on, Stevens ran some good hard penetrative lines as did Thompson crossing the gain on numerous occasions, Uxbridge time and time again spoilt every effort for Quins to control 2nd phase's situations, so as to get the ball out down the Quins line.
When on the few occasions the Quins backs did get ball, it was untidy and quickly passed out to the wings Wallace and Williams, who did well, but to no avail.
Quins with 30 minutes remaining were awarded a penalty which was converted by Webster. No sooner had play restarted, that Quins were penalised in front of the posts, and Uxbridge drew level again 6 -6.
Quins kept up the pressure, as this was a must win game for the Quins if they were to retain top spot in the league. Uxbridge were feeling the pressure and committed a number of infringements which were penalised . there must have been 6, one after the other, all of which on a good day, Webster would have converted, he did however get one, this put us ahead 6-9 with 7 minutes to go. Uxbridge upped the pace, by putting on fresh legs and then kept us our 22 for that whole period of time. Quins defence stood firm, until Uxbridge were awarded a penalty 5 yards from the try line . they opted for the penalty, which summed up there negative attitude toward the game, they had the squeeze on Quins for the first time in the game, but where happy to go for a draw.
Fortunately for Quins they missed, the whistle went and Quins won 6-9. The really positive side of this result was the passion and commitment that Quins showed through out the game. This attitude will serve us well throuh out the season, but Quins must in future look to ensure that our game plan works, we have the squad to do this.
Team: Phil Ah Sun, Adam Wallace, ChrisHugall, Harry Hurst, Matt Williams, Ross Webster(capt), Graham Coyle, Matt Stevens, Phill Thompson, Nick Glanville, Kevin Boyle, Tom Curry, Lucian Roberts,John Fairweather, Tony Shepeard, Ben Fretwell, Rupert Shaw, Ean Evans.
Next week Quins Amateurs are at the Stoop. 2.30 Kick Off.
The first ten minutes of play showed that Quins were working the plan well, the backs were given plenty of ball, Webster kicking for field position brilliantly, but the Uxbridge defence stood firm, it would only be a matter of time before we broke through,. fifteen minutes into the game Quins were awarded a penalty, which Captain Ross Webster slotted.
From the restart it was Uxbridge who rallied their forwards, they unsettled the Quins forwards and continued to muscle in on Quins weakening control of both, the set and loose play, infringing at every opportunity. The majority of these off side infringements were missed by the referee. Uxbridge had quite clearly decided on their style of play, which was to disrupt us as much as they possibly could in the forwards, they knew were to target and this they did, but we held our discipline and composure in that department.
Quins had succumbed to the Uxbridge level of play, we simply failed to secure enough good control of the ball in all phases resulting in our backs not receiving enough of the ball by which to expose the opposition, and attack with the flair that was in the three quaters. The pressure of play by the Quins forwards for the majority of the 1st half had been in the Uxbridge 22 for at least 70% of the first half. At half time with only 3 points to show for all that effort, we needed to regroup and stamp our authority on how we wanted to play in the 2nd half.
Within 5 minutes of the 2nd half, Uxbridge were awarded a penalty, Quins not releasing, after a kick through by Uxbridge following a Quins spilt ball, this levelled the score. Quins became increasingly frustrated as time drew on, Stevens ran some good hard penetrative lines as did Thompson crossing the gain on numerous occasions, Uxbridge time and time again spoilt every effort for Quins to control 2nd phase's situations, so as to get the ball out down the Quins line.
When on the few occasions the Quins backs did get ball, it was untidy and quickly passed out to the wings Wallace and Williams, who did well, but to no avail.
Quins with 30 minutes remaining were awarded a penalty which was converted by Webster. No sooner had play restarted, that Quins were penalised in front of the posts, and Uxbridge drew level again 6 -6.
Quins kept up the pressure, as this was a must win game for the Quins if they were to retain top spot in the league. Uxbridge were feeling the pressure and committed a number of infringements which were penalised . there must have been 6, one after the other, all of which on a good day, Webster would have converted, he did however get one, this put us ahead 6-9 with 7 minutes to go. Uxbridge upped the pace, by putting on fresh legs and then kept us our 22 for that whole period of time. Quins defence stood firm, until Uxbridge were awarded a penalty 5 yards from the try line . they opted for the penalty, which summed up there negative attitude toward the game, they had the squeeze on Quins for the first time in the game, but where happy to go for a draw.
Fortunately for Quins they missed, the whistle went and Quins won 6-9. The really positive side of this result was the passion and commitment that Quins showed through out the game. This attitude will serve us well throuh out the season, but Quins must in future look to ensure that our game plan works, we have the squad to do this.
Team: Phil Ah Sun, Adam Wallace, ChrisHugall, Harry Hurst, Matt Williams, Ross Webster(capt), Graham Coyle, Matt Stevens, Phill Thompson, Nick Glanville, Kevin Boyle, Tom Curry, Lucian Roberts,John Fairweather, Tony Shepeard, Ben Fretwell, Rupert Shaw, Ean Evans.
Next week Quins Amateurs are at the Stoop. 2.30 Kick Off.
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