By AlanQuin
January 25 2005

The 2nd team’s attempt to add to their run of 16 successive victories in the Zurich A League was ended by London Wasps at Aldershot last night by 25 points to 41 points. It had to come sooner or later, I suppose.

Quins only chance of retaining their title almost certainly requires a win with a bonus point in the return fixture at Imber Court next month.

Wasps success was brought about largely by their heavier and older forwards.  Their front row has played together as a unit in the Premiership and three others had first team experience.  The sight of Trevor Leota coming off the bench with twenty minutes to go in the match only emphasised the men-against-boys nature of the match.  The Harlequins were nearly all under 20 years of age and had 12 Academy players in the team.  The platform which dominance of the scrum gave to Wasps was the key to their dominance of possession throughout the game.

Almost from the start Quins had a penalty for offside followed almost immediately for another which saw the ball kicked deep into the right corner for an attacking line-out.  The subsequent catch and drive crossed the line but was deemed to have been held up.  It was in the seventh minute,  from another attacking lineout that the forwards managed to cross the try-line again and this time Alex Rogers scored. Luke Cousins converted from the touchline.

Quins resumed the attack and Joe Mbu appeared to be put away for an easy run in but was unable to gather the ball.  But from that mishandling Wasps counterattacked and their young fly-half Cipriani ran through the Quins defence to score.  The conversion levelled the scores.  Thereafter the game began to run away from Quins although for a long time they were only eight points behind.

The next 15 minutes saw two more tries scored by Wasps.  First from a scrum close to the Quins line the Wasps centre, Foster, found an easy gap to score after a poor defensive tackle. Then the Wasps pack pressure saw prop Henry Nwume score.  The conversion missed but Wasps led 7 – 19.  Between the two scores another potentially scoring Quins attack fizzled out when Charlie Amesbury, first of a two man overlap with Joe Mbu outside him, juggled with the ball but could not hold on to the pass.

On the half-hour a good break by Horstmann led to a penalty outside the Wasps 22-metere line which Luke Cousins kicked to narrow the gap to 10 – 19. A penalty to Wasps shortly afterwards was kicked to the corner but they lost the ensuing lineout and the pressure was relieved. A drop goal attempt by Thrower went wide and the half ended without further score.

Quins resumed in the second half with clear determination to regain the lead and after seven minutes Joe Mbu was set off along the path to the try-line fending off would-be tacklers and touching down under the posts.  Unfortunately, the conversion was charged down.  But Wasps came back and Mbu’s defensive failings were highlighted when Thrower went through to score and converted his own try. 15 – 26

Another penalty kicked by Cousins again reduced the lead to 8 points but then an interception of a slow loop pass as Quins sought to attack produced an easy score for Wasps’ Roberts widened the gap to 18 – 33 and Quins were playing catch up and still struggling against the heavier Wasps’ pack with only their lineout giving them good possession but the Wasps defence seemingly impenetrable.  But Quins again replied quickly and Joe Mbu barged his way through the tacklers to score again.  This time Cousins converted and the gap was again reduced to 25- 33

Good runs first by Steven James, the replacement scrum-half, whose break from half-way ended without the try it deserved and a break by Mike Brown and pass to Henry Barratt ended with the winger tackled into touch just  short of the line and the chance of a league bonus point was gone.

As the game drew to an end a penalty to Wasps was kicked to increase the gap and then a clearance kick was charged down by Wasps and their lock, Skivington, kicked on and won the race to touch down. 25 – 41

There were positives to be taken from the match.  Jim Evans had a superb game on his return from injury.  He dominated the lineout so that Quins did not lose one throughout the game and he won at least one on Wasps’ throw.  In the centre Tosh Masson again demonstrated his ability as did Tom Guest.  Cameron Dott threw well and without losing a lineout or conceding a scrum.  

In the end a stronger, older and more experienced Wasps side prevailed.  I doubt if the return will be that easy for them.

 

NEC Harlequins: 15. Charlie Amesbury, 14. Henry Barratt, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Andy Reay, 11. Joe Mbu, 10. Luke Cousins, 9. Duncan James, 1. Tom Muggridge, 2. Cameron Dott, 3. Alex Rogers, 4. Alex Ayling, 5. Jim Evans, 6. Tom Guest, 7. Chris Cracknell, 8. Kai Horstmann (Captain)
Replacements: 16. Matt Sermon, 17. Mark Abel, 18. James Inglis, 19. Andrew Hodgkins, 20. Steven Jay, 21. Damu, 22. Mike Brown

Scorers:
Tries: Rogers, Mbu (2)
Conversions: Cousins (2)
Penalties: Cousins (2)

London Wasps: 15. Rob Laird, 14. Michael Roberts, 13. Tim Foster, 12. Matt Priscott, 11. Edd Thrower, 10. Daniel Cipriani, 9. Warren Fury, 1. Alistair McKenzie, 2. Ben Gotting, 3. Henry Nwume, 4. Rob Cain, 5. George Skivington, 6. John-Paul Filler, 7. Gareth Chamberlain, 8. John Hart (Captain)
Replacements: 16. Rowan Fuller, 17. Jonny Barrett, 18. Trevor Leota, 19. James Honeyben, 20. Liam Brown, 21. Ed Hoadley, 22. Nick Defty

Scorers:
Tries: Cipriani, Foster, Nwume, Thrower, Roberts, Skivington
Conversions: Thrower (4)
Penalty: Thrower

Referee:  G. Ashton-Jones (R.N.R.U)