By PeeJay
November 29 2004

NEC Harlequins finally buried their Leeds Tykes ‘hoodoo’ with a comprehensive 31-17 win in front of 6447 fans at a cold and wet Stoop yesterday afternoon.  Since defeating Leeds 40-16 in the ‘relegation’ decider at the end of the 2001/02 season (who will ever forget Keith Wood’s two tries).

The Tykes have been something of a thorn in Quins backside inflicting 33-23 and 16-9 defeats on their last two visits to the Stoop, not to mention dumping us out of last season’s Powergen Cup and ‘poaching’ rising star Chris Bell from our ranks. 

With Worcester Warriors upsetting the form book by beating Wasps on Friday night, this was a must win game for Quins though not one that was going to be easy given the likes of Iain Balshaw, Tim Stimpson and Andre Snyman not to mention a solid pack fortified by the recent addition of 19 stone Rayno Gerber lining up for the opposition.

An evenly matched first half saw Quins take the lead after 18 minutes following earlier long range penalty misses from both Jeremy Staunton and Tim Stimpson.  A poor clearance kick from Stimpson was picked up by an inspired George Harder, playing against his old team, who fed a clever reverse pass allowing Tani Fuga to score in the corner.  Staunton missed the conversion from out wide but he and Stimpson then traded penalties before the Tykes went ahead for the only time in the match. 

Working down the left flank, Mike Shelley passed to that man Chris Bell, whose pass set up David Rees to score in the corner.  A successful Stimpson conversion gave Leeds a 10-8 advantage which they held until the stroke of half time when a Staunton penalty restored Quins lead.

With the wind and rain behind Quins but blowing straight into the faces of the few hardy souls left in a largely deserted South Stand, the conditions were always going to favour the home side so it was no great surprise when Staunton extended their lead with a penalty eight minutes into the second half.   With the crowd now starting to get behind the team, Quins second try was not long in coming.  A quickly taken tap and go by Steve So’oialo, after Leeds had lost a lineout within ten metres of their own line, was backed up by the forwards, who drove the scrum half over the line.  A successful Staunton conversion followed by a penalty out wide gave Quins a 24-10 advantage with just five minutes remaining. 

With all the home team’s replacements now on the field, the game was sealed three minutes later with a superb moment of champagne rugby with Nick Easter finishing off an amazing rolling maul that started some 40 metres out from the Leeds line.  Such was the momentum of the Quins pack that the goal posts were rocking from side to side after the ball had been touched down - let’s hope they show that one on the next Rugby Club! 

Andy Dunne kicked the conversion but, as Quins went in search of the bonus point, it was Leeds who scored the last points of the match with the ever dangerous Chris Bell scoring a consolation try under the posts for the visitors following an excellent break from Phil Christophers.  A very entertaining match was sealed by the reappearance of the home team on the pitch after the final whistle – a nice gesture to the fans who braved the foul weather and resisted the temptation to go Christmas shopping instead. 

With Northampton losing at Newcastle and slipping to the bottom of the Premiership, Quins third win on the trot moves them up two places to the dizzy heights of 10^th and, significantly, only two points behind Leeds and three behind Saracens.  Now that Quins and Worcester are finally stringing some wins together, it’s anyone’s guess which of these five teams will finish bottom.  From the home team’s point of view it was very encouraging to see excellent performances again from the much maligned Steve So’oialo (man of the match) and Jeremy Staunton (who looks increasingly comfortable with his place kicks) not to mention old timer Tony Diprose and also Simon Miall who were outstanding in the lineout.  With back to back Heineken Cup games to come against the Ospreys over the next two weekends, Quins will desperate to continue their winning run.  A win in both these games and against Castres in France would set up a wonderful finale to the group stages of the competition against Munster at Twickenham,  Perhaps I’m living in ‘cloud cuckoo’ land but the 2000/1 on offer for Quins to win the Heineken Cup is suddenly looking a generous price.  Mark Evans however is not getting so carried away.  In the Times today he is quoted as saying “Things went well today, but that doesn’t mean it will be the same next week.” “At least we’ve got a bit of momentum now.”  Long may it continue!

NEC Harlequins
Mike Worsley (Jon Dawson, 74 mins), Tani Fuga (James Hayter, 74 mins), Ceri Jones, Roy Winters, Simon Miall (Simon Maling, 64 mins), Nick Easter, Andre Vos, Tony Diprose (Luke Sherriff, 74 mins), Steven So’oialo, Jeremy Staunton (Andy Dunne, 75 mins), Simon Keogh, Mel Deane, Dafydd James, George Harder (Ugo Monye, 64 mins), Tom Williams (Gavin Duffy, 75 mins).
Replacements
James Hayter, Jon Dawson, Simon Maling, Luke Sherriff, Andy Dunne, Ugo Monye, Gavin Duffy.

Scorers
Tries: Fuga, So’oialo, Easter Pens: Staunton (4) Cons: Staunton, Dunne

Leeds Tykes
Mike Shelley, Mark Regan (Rob Rawlinson, 70 mins), Rayno Gerber, Scott Morgan, Tom Palmer, Pierre Uys, Dan Hyde (Jon Dunbar, 40 mins), Colm Rigney, Alan Dickens, Gareth Wright (Phil Christophers, 62 mins), David Rees, Andre Snyman, Chris Bell, Iain Balshaw (Tom Biggs, 74 mins), Tim Stimpson.
Replacements
Matt Holt, Rob Rawlinson, Chris Murphy, Jon Dunbar, Mark McMillan, Phil Christophers, Tom Biggs.

Scorers
Tries: Rees, Bell Pens: Stimpson Cons: Stimpson (2)

Ref
Roy Maybank