By AlanQuin
December 14 2010

A performance of much endeavour but little inspiration saw Harlequins A team defeated by Saracens Storm in the Aviva A League at The Stoop last night by 14 – 22.

From the start both teams tried to play running rugby with the ball moving from hand to hand and back and forth along the line.  Unforced errors and poor decisions produced frequent stoppages and turning over of possession but little penetration. Defences both held firm.

It was fully twenty-two minutes before the first score.  Clegg with an excellent chip and gather took play deep into the Saracens’ twenty-two and Saracens were penalised at the breakdown giving the fly half a simple three points in front of the posts, although he had missed with two previous regulation attempts.

An attack along the left wing by Sam Smith and Charlie Walker forced the defender to put the ball into touch giving Quins a close attacking lineout.  The catch and drive from the Quins forwards carried them across the line but the ball was held up. A penalty at the resulting scrum allowed Quins to call for another scrum, but this time possession and the chance were both lost.

As the half drifted to its close, a Saracens attack found Quins offside in front of their posts and allowed the visitors’ fly half, Sharp, to kick a simple penalty to level the scores at the interval at 3 – 3.

Mass changes of personnel in the Harlequins team to start the second half were presumably made with the forthcoming trip to Ireland in mind, as possible participants in the match in Connacht were withdrawn from the fray.  Despite the successful penalty with which Clegg increased the score, there was a subtle change in the balance of the match.

Saracens attacked determinedly and drove Quins back deep into their own twenty-two, where a penalty for offside was quickly taken by replacement prop James Ellershaw who dived over the line from 5 metres unopposed.  The conversion was missed but Saracens took the lead at 6 – 8 and never relinquished it to the end.

Both fly halves failed with penalty kicks, Clegg’s attempt hitting the post, before the Saracens pack, which was exerting great pressure on the Quins’ line, inevitably drove over for their second try.  The conversion extended the lead to 6 – 15 although a penalty allowed Clegg to reduce it to 9 – 15 a minute later.

Saracens were now much more dangerous in attack and a chip and chase nearly brought another try and although Sam Smith prevented the score, his clearance kick gave the visitors an attacking lineout.  But now the Saracens pack was beginning to dominate and their catch and drive was irresistible as they crossed for the third try.  The successful conversion extended the lead to 9 – 22.

Despite a try from Sam Smith, that Clegg failed to convert, Harlequins were unable to claw back even a losing bonus point as Saracens wound down the clock.