By AlanQuin
November 30 2004

The Harlequin 2nd XV remain at the top of the Southern Conference of the Zurich A League after demolishing London Irish by 36 points to nil, running in five tries for another five good league points. 

For long periods of the game Irish were penned in their own half and had to defend with considerable determination as the rampant Quins forwards exerted great pressure on the try line.  Only a number of unforced errors, occurring when scoring chances were squandered, held the score to 36 when it might easily have been double that.

Team changes provided interest with Andy Dunne playing scrum-half and the appearance of another trialist on the flank in the person of Isoa Damudamu a Fiji and British Army 7’s player.  The former gave a competent performance while Damudamu scored two good tries.

From the start it was clear that Quins intended business and they should have had a couple of tries in the first seven minutes when first a good line-out catch and drive was pushed into touch by the corner flag and  later when a second forward rumble was adjudged to have been held up over the line.  That the Quins forwards were going to be the main force was never in doubt and Maling and Molitika and Rudzki began to dominate the lineout.

Despite the pressure put on the defence, Quins came away from those efforts without points as a quick tap penalty was almost carried over the line after a yellow card was issued to one of the Irish forwards.  Unfortunately light numbers on white shirts made him anonymous from the far side of the pitch.

Despite the reduction to 14 men, Irish continued to defend strongly and even mount some attacks which were well contained by the Quins defence.  Finally as the first quarter ended a cross-kick from Adrian Jarvis into the right corner bounced fortunately for Maama Molitika to collect and cross for the first try.  Dunne’s conversion attempt from the touchline went across the face of the goal.  5 – 0

A few minutes later Tosh Masson, receiving a good offload from his fellow centre, Andy Reay, sliced through the Irish lines, evading at least four tacklers, and found Damudamu in support on his left who gratefully accepted a good pass to score under the posts.  Dunne converted to make the score 12 – 0 which it remained until the interval despite further Quins pressure.

The second half started in similar vein to the first with the forwards winning line-out ball on Irish throws and causing disruption in the scrum.  After three minutes a penalty, from about 37 metres out, was kicked by Jarvis who clearly thought he needed a sighter and had taken over kicking duty from Andy Dunne.  15 – 0

Frustration began to overcome the Irish forwards and tempers began to fray as Quins began a good series of picks and drives through numerous phases until Molitika crossed for his second try.  Jarvis converted.  22 – 0

Quins continued to dominate both possession and territory and as the game entered the last quarter a good run from Barratt saw the ball move quickly left to Joe Mbu and the winger, who had come infield looking for the ball, showed pace and strength in evading and handing off a number of tacklers to cross for an excellent try which Jarvis converted. 29 – 0

Finally, with only ten minutes remaining, a fine run down the right by Henry Barratt was stopped just short of the line but he was able to pop the ball up to Damudamu for the flanker to cross for a second try which Jarvis converted.  36 – 0

Despite continuing to push the Exiles back in their own half and the whole of the bench arriving as fresh legs, Quins were unable to add to their score.  It was a very satisfactory result with the team remaining unbeaten after six league matches.  There were some excellent performances in the forwards and from Tosh Masson in particular in the backs.

 
Harlequins: 15. Gavin Duffy, 14. Henry Barratt, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Andy Reay, 11. Joe Mbu, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Andy Dunne, 1. Maurice Fitz Gerald, 2. James Hayter (Capt.), 3. Jon Dawson, 4. Karl Rudzki, 5. Simon Maling, 6. Isoa Damudamu, 7. Luke Sherriff, 8. Mamma Molitika

Replacements: Cameron Dott, Tom Muggridge, George Robson, Tom Guest, Duncan James, Kiba Richards, Mike Brown

Scorers:
Tries: Molitika (2), Damu (2), Mbu
Conversions: Dunne, Jarvis (3)
Penalty: Jarvis

London Irish: 15. Ross Laidlaw, 14. Paul Sackey, 13. Rodd Penney, 12. Neil Whitworth, 11. Topsy Ojo, 10. Shane Geraghty, 9. Kevin Barrett, 1. Adam Halsey, 2. James Greenwood, 3. Pierre Durant, 4. Gary Johnson, 5. Ed Mallett, 6. Richard Thorpe, 7. Mike Haslett, 8. Kieran Roche

Replacements: Steve Lamb, Flint Davidson, James Grimes, Kieran Geraghty, Paddy Gill