By AlanQuin
April 4 2006

Harlequins young backs, prompted and fed by the passing of Andrew Mehrtens, cut the Saracens defence to shreds with great pace and deadly finishing.  The forwards were no less sharp, both with ball in hand and at the scrum where they dominated.

Ten tries brought a 66 -12 victory, winning the Southern Conference of the Guinness A League and a place in the final against Leicester Tigers.

From the first attack, the ball going through several pairs of hands to the left then to the right and finally left again for Mark Lambert to crash through for the first try, Quins were clearly determined to finish the job quickly. Mehrtens converted and Quins led 7 – 0 in the first minute of the match.

Further attacks were not long in coming.  A penalty for an offence as Mike Brown brilliantly caught his own high kick forward saw Mehrtens miss the target.  Despite this it was not long before Quins increased the score.  Pressure on the Saracens’ line saw the ball moved rapidly right and Tosh Masson slice through the cover for the second try.  The conversion was good and the score 14 – 0 after eight minutes.

Quins immediately returned to the attack and in a series of forward picks and drives Lambert appeared to have crossed for a second try he was apparently held up and Quins had a five metre scrum.  From the set piece the ball found Mike Brown and his pass went to Masson who had an easy touch down for his second try. Mehrtens added the points.

Other than at the restarts Saracens had not been in the Harlequins’ half of the pitch. But now a penalty in midfield found a good touch deep into the Quins twenty-two and their forwards began to exert some pressure upon the defence.  Eventually the pressure told and the visitors scored on the corner.  The conversion attempt missed and the score after twenty minutes was 21 – 5.

Within a minute or so, however, Quins scored again with possibly the try of the evening.  A long kick through into space from Mehrtens was followed at great speed by Charlie Amesbury who, outpacing the defence, managed to kick on and pick up on the bounce still at full speed and complete a 70 metre run to touch down under the posts.  Mehrtens   converted.  The bonus point was secured and Quins effectively had the match won with three quarters of the game still to be played.

Saracens continued to make determined efforts to play rugby.  Unfortunately their attacks lacked invention and Quins’ defence and tackling was good, frequently turning over possession.  Saracens only rarely crossed the gain line as the ball moved laterally along a three-quarter line that had little or no penetration.

From their fourth try only some three minute elapsed before another Quins’ thrust saw them stopped just short of the line on the left.  Quick ball moved right saw Pablo Bouza spinning through two tackles to score under the posts. The conversion posed no problem and the score became 35 – 5.

By now it was a matter only of how soon would it be before Quins scored again.  Barely four minutes had passed before another devastatingly fast break by Amesbury and a superb inside pass to Mike Brown put the full back in space with an easy run to the line.  The conversion made the score 42 – 5,  A further three minutes saw another score as good handling and passing down the right saw Henry Barratt cross in the corner and the conversion from the touchline by Mehrtens increased the lead to 49 – 5.

Saracens redoubled their efforts but could make little impression on the Quins defence although they were pressing towards the Quins’ line as the half ended without further score. 

The second half brought the usual rash of substitutions on both sides and  the game lost a little of its shape. But only a few minutes into the half Quins score again as Mike Brown followed a kick through at great speed and touched down for his second try.  The conversion made the score 56- 5

Saracens now managed another score as they drove into Quins’ half and finally centre Paul Bailey cut through to score. Ben Russell converted. 56 – 12. 

Again the Harlequin response was quick as an attack on the right wing saw Barratt off-load with a clever back flick and found Agustin Costa Repetto who broke one tackle and running strongly handed off another tackler to score in the corner.  Mehrtens’ touchline kick failed.

The next twenty-five minutes brought a series of midfield exchanges with an increasing number of turnovers and errors but no scores until right at the last Kiba Richards, on the right wing in place of Barratt, broke through a couple of tackles and was able to run thirty metres to the line.  Charlie Amesbury made a vain attempt to add the conversion as the final whistle sounded with a final score of 66 – 12

Quins produced the good running performance one has come to expect from the A team with Brown, Amesbury and Masson showing their ability and hunger for the try-line.  The forwards were not to be outdone with Mark Lambert again demonstrating his ability and Repetto showing he is a good signing.

Harlequins are now seven league points clear of their opponents next week, Gloucester, and will meet Leicester in the two leg final to be played home and away on 17^th and 24^th April.  The venues will be decided later this week.  The match against Gloucester United is at Imber Court on 10^th April at 7.30 p.m.

Harlequins A:
15. Mike Brown , 14. Henry Barratt, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Mel Deane , 11. Charlie Amesbury, 10. Andrew Mehrtens, 9. Ian Vass , 1. Aston Croall, 2. Augustin Costa Repetto, 3. Mark Lambert, 4. James Inglis, 5. George Robson (c), 6. Pablo Bouza, 7. Darren Clayton, 8. Tony Diprose,
Replacements: 16. Alex Rogers, 17. Mike Ross, 18. Kevin Burke,  19. Wayne Saunders, 20. Steve Wallace, 21. Adam Thompstone, 22 Kiba Richards

Referee: David Rose (RFU)