By AlanQuin
April 20 2010

Harlequins A completed a comprehensive six-try victory over London Wasps A at The Stoop last night. They provided a good crowd with excellent running rugby and excellent entertainment. Incidentally, they ensured that they finished at the top of the Southern Conference of the A League and obtained themselves a home semi-final next Monday evening against Leeds Carnegie A.

From the start, Harlequins were determined to run the balland attack and it soon became apparent that their forwards, too, were dominantin the scrum although fallible in the lineout.  It took only five minutes for them to register the first tryas pressure on the Wasps’ line saw Lewis Stevenson, who had an excellent gamethroughout, crash over on the right to score.   Luvenyali’s conversion kick failed.

A penalty soon afterwards allowed Wasps to open their scorewith Rob Kirby’s successful kick. He scored again later in the half, but by then Quins had two more triesand a conversion and 17 points on the board.  The first of these tries followed a penalty and a five-metrelineout creating enormous pressure on the Wasps line and Masson puttingLuvenyali in to score although his conversion attempt failed.

Quins were again on the attack from the restart and, winninga lineout in their opponents’ twenty-two, produced a strong and ultimatelyirresistible catch and drive which allowed Aston Croall to score. Luvenyaliadded the conversion for 17 – 3.

Encouraged by their second penalty, Wasps stepped up theirefforts and mounted a series of attacks, but were staunchly repulsed.  Then with four minutes remaining in thefirst half, after Quins had won a scrum against the head, Luvenyali’s pass putJosh Drauiniu away down the right wing and another excellent try. Theconversion brought the score to 24 – 6 at half time.

Quins resumed after the interval in similar running mode,but the interval had allowed thought and rest and Wasps sought to attack anddrove play into the Quins’ half where they gained a penalty.  Unfortunately, a yellow card for theWasps prop, Bocca, for a dangerous charge off his feet into the ruck saw thepenalty reversed.  With the manadvantage Quins attacked and increased pressure on the defence and eventuallyJames Johnston was driven over for the try. Luvenyali added the points for theconversion. 

But now Quins were almost playing sevens rugby.  The backs, with Smith and Lindsay-Hagueparticularly noticeable, were very lively with the latter prepared to run theball from his own twenty-two and later showing his versatility by taking overat scrum-half!   Then as thematch was about to enter the final quarter a neat chip over the heads of theWasps’ defenders saw three Quins racing for the ball which had crossed thetry-line and Nils Mordt winning the race to score.  Luvenyali again was successful with the conversion bringingthe score to 38 -  6.

After the match Director of Rugby Conor O’Shea, who hadwatched in company with England Under-20 coach Mark Mapletoft, was clearlydelighted with the result and the performance saying “There is real quality outthere.” 

So to the semi-final withLeeds on Monday 26^th at 7:30 at The Stoop.