Harlequins
The Good & The Bad: Quins v Northampton
By Battering Ram Winger
February 22 2010
Just when you thought it was safe to log on, I'm back...
The Good
1). A WIN!!!
Hooray! Let joy be unconfined! Scrappy, hard fought, nerve-wracking, but a win. And after the Glaws debacle, heaven knows we needed it. And the game was a real old fashioned ding dong, lots of welcome spite and niggle.
2). James Percival
My MOTM, he carried ball in some heavy traffic, smashed rucks, basically did the job you want from a big lock. Certainly the pick of the locks on display for both teams, I felt.
3). Tenacity
Given that again we failed to score any points in the second half (read on), the fact that we hung in there shows a good spirit, or at least someone beasted them in training.
4). Another game back for JTH, more experience for George Lowe
This season's a write off, but if we can get JTH fit next season and actually have the same centres start a run of successive games our midfield might look a bit coherent. Lowe is shaping up to be a real talent.
5). Bits of the scrum
Sometimes we mashed their scrum, we even drove them off the ball once, excellent.
The Bad
1). The lineout
Urgh. A bit all over the shop, it has to be said.
2). Half time tea
For the love of God, STOP PUTTING HORSE TRANQULISERS IN IT! Yet again we played a good first half and then totally failed to come out of the changing rooms in the second, leaving the poor fans chewing our nails and tearing out our hair.
3). Mike Brown's Stupid Temper
So, the opposition are pressing in injury time in your half for a winner, no time on the clock and they knock on, which should end the game. What do you do? Get into a fight which could result in another penalty to prolong the game.
4). Service from the Dickson brothers
Not of the highest standard at times...
Still, it's a win, most of the results went our way, let's kick on and seal our safety!
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I thought our lineout went well, especially against a good team like Northampton - we only had one overthrow didn't we?
I thought Mike Brown's temper was caused by him being grabbed round the neck and thrown to the floor at the end - I think it would have made anyone angry to say the least!
But at times the ball[i][/i] was too slow (from ruck) and Karl D (and bro) had to wait to get forwards into place to reset and recycle as the pass option had been closed off or would have resulted in loss of possesion following inevitable kick. Not always behind box-kicking as unless followed up directly and forcefully, it more than often results in lost possesion.
I disagree. We might not have been as dominant in the second half, but we didn't come under much pressure until the last 2 minutes. I would say territory was about even after half time, we might have even shaded it, but the accuracy went and errors crept in. I put that down to the fact that we kept most of the starting XV on as long as possible. With the number of players unavailable I think that had to be the tactic if we were to win the game.
"Lineout a bit all over the shop"
Disagree. One overthrow and one ball tipped back rather than caught.
"Mike Brown's stupid temper".
Disagree. I thought Mike, and several others, got into Saints faces and unsettled them. As long as it's done right there's nothing wrong wi a bit o' argy bargy, and I think MB had himself well under control.
GOOD:
The maul!! Not exactly All-Black-like, but we actually made some ground rather than standing still or going backwards, so that was a big improvement!
Chris Robshaw had an immense game, and seems to have been revitalised by his time with England
Will Skinner Excellent leadership. Made a big difference.
Kick chasing Plenty of purpose behind the chasing when we kicked. Great individual efforts and decision making re go for the ball or wait and tackle the man from Williams, Lowe, Evans etc., and also a good team effort. There was one dropout in the second half that Nick punted long and I was really heartened to see the whole team pounding after it, even thought they were clearly starting to tire.
one good thing was the NEv has stopped doing those infuriating restarts which go straight down the middle of the pitch and give the chasers no chance of competing. i suspect it's a tactic used with ugo in mind, as he has the pace to compete, but in both matches against gloucester it handed the ball to them on a plate time and again. malone did them last season too, which makes me think it must be a deliberate ploy
but the main thing is the win. now just need to start finishing off some of those overlaps and keep the scoreboard going in the 2nd half
RESPECT THE REF - NO REF, NO GAME!
I don't know who's pockets are lined by the revenue from the bars (I'm assuming we franchise it out for a set cost?) but if I was in charge of that business, there would be some very simple but effective changes which would increase turnover considerably.
Given that I'm having to list the bar staff as one of "the bad", then things must be looking up on the pitch!
RESPECT THE REF - NO REF, NO GAME!
