Harlequins
Harlequins 55-17 I Cavalieri Prato
By AlanQuin
October 17 2010
An excellent first half performance followed by a second half rather less convincing, nevertheless ensured that Harlequins stand top of their Amlin Cup pool after the first tranche of pool matches as a bonus point win was produced by a 55 – 17 crushing of I Cavalieri Prato.
There was a great deal to enjoy and relish in the running rugby of the young backs and the solid endeavour of the equally young forwards in the pack. This was a nearer to the Harlequins A side than the first XV as all but five of the team could be considered as senior players. They played with the flair and elan that those who watch the A side expect to see, but that, not surprisingly, is more rarely on view in the Premiership.
Early skirmishing produced an opening penalty kick from Clegg and, after a first miss, an equaliser from Wakarua, the sides being level after nine minutes. But then Quins began to run and after a lovely, flowing, multi-passing move, the ball ended in the hands of Tom Williams for the opening try. Clegg’s conversion attempt failed. There was good response by the visitors, whose forwards began to drive in short surges while retaining possession until a knock on gave Quins a scrum inside their own twenty-two to relieve the assault.
Then a fine break by George Lowe was finished by Ross Chisholm under the posts and Clegg added the simple conversion. Quins led 15 – 3 and the eventual outcome was already obvious. A further try followed just a few minutes later as a break by Casson in midfield put George Lowe away for the third try which Clegg duly converted for 22 – 3. There might have been another as Tom Williams chipped ahead as he went down the wing and had almost won the race for a touchdown when the right-angled turn of the ball took it into touch.
But now the forwards were beginning to prevail in the set piece and began to advance into the Italian twenty-two. A penalty when the visitors went offside was taken as a five metre attacking scrum. A penalty at the scrum as the power exerted by the Quins’ pack pushed the Italians back produced another scrum as did a free kick for early engagement. The outcome was obvious as the Quins forwards drove towards and over the line. The pointless professional foul by the Italian flanker who broke off the pack and kicked the ball away from Guest’s feet only ensured the penalty try that was immediately awarded. Clegg added the conversion. The bonus point was secured with five minutes of the half remaining.
Quins were now attacking with increasing superiority and as the half drew to its close a chip over the defence by Clegg for the backs to chase saw Chisholm race through to score his second try. The final kick of the half was Clegg’s successful conversion to bring the score to 36 – 3.
The second half saw redoubled efforts from the visitors who had probably thought they were going to have an easier ride after their previous week’s win against Connacht. No doubt their coach had said a few words at half-time! They made some changes at half-time and started to batter at the Quins’ defences. They nearly came unstuck after five minutes when a break led by Will Skinner and then with the ball through a number of hands a mass of bodies crossed the Italian line but the ball was held up. A penalty against Quins at the subsequent scrum relieved the pressure and a further penalty following the lineout allowed the Italians to find touch some twenty metres from Quins’ try line. This time the visitors were able to move the ball along their line and find an overlap on the right for Majstorovic to score. Wakarua added the conversion.
Then with twenty minutes remaining, a penalty at a scrum set off another Quins’ attack and a clever chip ahead from Clegg found Tom Williams, who juggled, caught and crossed to score his second try. The conversion attempt failed. More substitutes arrived on both sides, notably Sam Smith, for Casson, and he was soon in the fray as another good Quins attack saw the ball moved skilfully along the backs to Smith who beat two defenders to cut inside and score by the posts. Rory Clegg added the conversion to make the score 48 -10 with ten minutes remaining.
There was still time for Tom Williams to add a third try to his personal tally for the afternoon and for Clegg to add another conversion to his score. A rather wild pass intended for Urdapilleta ran loose, was kicked on by an Italian player and Lewis-Pratt won the race to score a late consolation try. Wakarua converted and the match ended with the score 55 – 17.
After the match Conor O’Shea was clearly satisfied with the result which had taken them to the top of the pool saying that they were now where they had wanted to be after the two games.
Harlequins: Chisholm; Camacho, Lowe, Casson, Williams; Clegg, Dickson; Jones, Gray, Johnston; Robson, Browne; Vallejos, Skinner (capt), Guest.
Replacements: Urdapilleta for Lowe (41), S. Smith for Casson (62), Moore for Dickson (62), Lambert for Jones (65), Brooker for Gray (51), Andress for Johnston (51), Kohn for Vallejos (75), Wallace for Guest (65).
I Cavalieri Estra: Wakarua; Tempestini, Majstorovic, Rodwell, Vezzosi; Chiesa, Patelli; Poloni, L Giovanchelli (capt), Stefani; Beccaris, Moore; Petillo, Cristiano, Soqueta.
Replacements: Von Grumbkow for Tempestini (41), Canale for Majstorovic (72), Lewis-Pratt for Rodwell (41), Goti for Poloni (59), Neri for Giovachelli (65), Borsi for Stefani (41), Marino for Beccaris (77), Belardo for Soqueta (65).
Referee: Andrew Macpherson (Scotland)
Attendance: 9,639
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Good work AQ, many thanks!
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
CoS;'s comment is a little disingenuous of course "we" wanted to be top after two games but with nine points rather than six. We will need back to back wins over Connacht in December.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:18:19:06:34 by SpanishQuin.
