By AlanQuin
November 28 2005

Quins had an easy passage through to the next stage of the Powergen Trophy scoring eight tries in a 0 – 48 win over Bridgwater and Albion from Division Three South.  A good crowd of about 3000 turned out to watch.

Despite the valiant efforts of the home team, they were outplayed in the forwards with their scrum frequently failing to deliver ball to the scrum-half and the Quins rolling maul frequently running rather than rolling.  The home line-out, too, worked only occasionally.   The game was played almost entirely in the Bridgwater half of the pitch and it is surprising that the score was not greater.  Their backs moved the ball well enough but lacked any penetration and frequently lost possession as a result of unforced errors.  They tried to compete at the breakdown but indiscipline and the referee’s whistle cost them dear.

Almost immediately the game started, Simon Keogh was put away on a good run down the left and showed Quins intentions.   He was stopped on the twenty-two metre line and the defence were penalised for going offside.  Quins took a scrum rather than the points and repeated the scrum on a further infringement and had the award reversed for delaying.  Bridgwater were clearly finding the pace and the pressure difficult and it was only a question of how soon Quins would score. And after nine minutes the ball was worked right from a scrum and then left for Tosh Masson to score the first try.  Andrew Mehrtens converted. 0 – 7.

Only three minutes later, a penalty allowed Mehrtens to find a good touch deep in Bridgwater territory. And from the ensuing line-out Luke Sherriff ran through easily for the second try. 

A third try followed a few minutes later as Nick Easter found himself at the end of a sequence of good fast passing although this time the conversion from wide out was missed and after 20 minutes the score was 0 – 19. 

Then an injury to Mike Worsley saw him replaced by Aston Croall. 

Quins continued to press deep in Bridgwater territory and at a ruck some ten metres from the try-line, the Bridgwater hooker Matt Hastie, went deliberately offside in a stupid attempt to slow the ball down.  A yellow card inevitably followed and so too shortly afterwards did another try as from a scrum the ball was moved rapidly right to find Ugo Monye in space and only three paces from the try-line.  The conversion from the touch line was missed. 0 – 24.

Bridgwater did not give up and in a very rare expedition into the Quins half of the field gained a penalty just inside the Quins ten metre line.  Unfortunately the kick struck the post and rebounded.  As the first half neared its end, Bridgwater sought to exert some pressure and gained an attacking line-out from a penalty.  They had good possession and were only prevented from scoring by a knock-on with the try-line at their mercy.  Quins too might have scored again with a superb catch by Keogh from a high ball which he ran thirty metres to take and offload to Tom Williams who was just put into touch short of the line.

As the half moved into injury time another fine run by Keogh saw him put into touch just short of the line.  From the line-out Quins won the ball and from a ruck almost on the try-line the Bridgwater hooker, Hastie, repeated his earlier blatant offence and this time a red card followed for the second offence.  Bridgwater were already in difficulties and playing with only 14 men did nothing to assist their performance. 

There was just time for one more try as once again quick ball passed right came to Monye in a repeat of his earlier try.  Again the touchline conversion attempt failed and at half-time with the score 0 – 29 the match was effectively over.

That Quins regarded the job as effectively done was evidenced by the withdrawal from the fray of Vos, Mehrtens, Monye and Miall who were replaced respectively by Robshaw, Jarvis, Amesbury and Burke.  The changes made little difference to the shape of the game save that it became more disjointed as Bridgwater, too, began to make replacements.  The whistle, too, was more frequent. Then after some five minutes of the second half, a good run by Amesbury saw the ball passed to Keogh and on to Tom Williams for the full back to brush off the defence and score.  Jarvis’ conversion attempt hit the post.  0- 34. 

Bridgwater defended with determination and despite their clear superiority Quins began to play sevens rugby with extravagant passes and inevitable errors.  The darkness, too, began to descend and the Bridgwater lights did little to pierce the gloom as the clouds overhead began to deposit sleet.  A blood injury took Robshaw off and Fuga replaced him.  Mike Brown replaced Keogh. With only ten minutes remaining, a catch and drive from a lineout close to the line saw Kevin Burke barge over and touch down and Jarvis convert. 0 – 41

Probably the best try of the match was yet to come as with only a minute or two left, Tom Williams set out on a curving counter attacking run from a high ball caught in his own half, beating at least four would be tacklers before unloading to Ian Vass whose angled run saw him cross under the posts.  Jarvis converted and the final whistle followed soon after.

So Quins scored their thirteenth successive win of the season, a club record.  The next round is almost certain to find a sterner examination against ND1 opposition.  Two more Cup wins will give Quins a visit to Twickenham.

 Final score: 0-48.

NEC Harlequins
Mike Worsley (Aston Croall ,23 mins), Jimmy Richards, Lorne Ward, Pablo Bouza, Simon Miall (Kevin Burke ,40 mins), Andre Vos (Christopher Robshaw ,40 mins), Luke Sherriff, Nick Easter, Ian Vass, Andrew Mehrtens (Adrian Jarvis ,40 mins), Ugo Monye (Charlie Amesbury ,40 mins), Jordan Turner-Hall, Tajiv Masson, Simon Keogh (Mike Brown ,62 mins), Tom Williams.
Replacements: Tani Fuga, Aston Croall (Mike Worsley ,23 mins), Kevin Burke (Simon Miall ,40 mins), Christopher Robshaw (Andre Vos ,40 mins), Adrian Jarvis (Andrew Mehrtens ,40 mins), Charlie Amesbury (Ugo Monye ,40 mins), Mike Brown (Simon Keogh ,62 mins)
Scorers: Tries: Luke Sherriff, Nick Easter, Ian Vass, Ugo Monye (2), Tosh Masson, Tom Williams, Kevin Burke. Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (2), Adrian Jarvis (2)

Bridgwater & Albion
Wayne Stiling, Matt Hastie, James Bryant, Simon Morrell, Dan Taylor, Ben Purcell, Chris Hansen, Paul Edwards, Stu Woodhouse, Andrew George, Gavin Hancock, Andrew Webber, Faapulou Soolefai, Mike Griffiths, Jervis Manupenu.
Replacements: Simon Hafoka, Andy Isaac, Marshall Cormack, Dan Kemmish, Owen Biggins, Owen Salmon, Nick Bridge