Harlequins
London Welsh 'A' 22 – 41 Harlequins 'A'
By Quinten Poulsen
September 11 2012
Although a home game for London Welsh, this fixture was hastily rearranged at the last minute to be played out at The Stoop due to a problem with floodlights at Old Deer Park. The small crowd was treated to free entry, free beer, and a decent display from Harlequins which saw them run out comfortable winners scoring five tries in the process.
London Welsh kicked the first half off playing towards the South stand. The early exchanges saw Harlequins with most of the possession but Welsh were disrupting them at the breakdown. A few penalties later and Ben Botica slotted his first 3 points. With both sides showing good intent by running the ball at almost every opportunity they were usually undone by an unforced error without ever putting many phases together. It was London Welsh loosehead, Billy Moss, who had perhaps the night's first good try scoring chance, running a good line and taking the ball deep into the Quins 22 before being tackled, leaving James Chisholm to tidy up the loose ball. Welsh continued to exert pressure on Harlequins, forcing the unofficial home side to give away penalties. One of these was kicked by Ryan Davies to make the score 3 - 3 with 15 min gone.
Minutes later, from a Harlequins lineout, Rory Clegg scythed through a gap in the defensive line beating several players before straightening and passing inside to Ben Botica who scored under the posts. Botica, who would go on to record another 100% kicking display, adding the extras. Harlequins were denied a second try when the unlucky Stegmann's chargedown saw him just run out of in-goal area. Quins had now cut down the errors somewhat and were starting to look more dangerous as they put phases together, but ultimately poor handling would let them down. A good run from Botica put Quins into the Welsh 22, and a fine charge from the base of the scrum by Clifford pressured the Welsh line but ultimately came to naught when a Welsh defender was interfered with off the ball.
Despite Quins having the better of the possession, London Welsh were scrapping well and continued to give them problems at the breakdown. However, from a penalty just outside the Quins 22, a huge kick from Rory Clegg gave Quins a lineout a few metres from the Welsh try line, and after a few rumbles forward from the pack Henry Taylor picked the ball up and scooted over the line, with Botica converting. At half-time the score was 3 – 17.
Charlie Walker started the second half in place of Matt Hopper at outside centre, and Harlequins exerted excellent pressure for the first few minutes of the half. Then the London Welsh scrum-half appeared to be penalised for taking longer than the requisite 5 seconds at the breakdown. Harlequins opted for the scrum and continued to do so when London Welsh offended again and again. Eventually Billy Moss was shown a yellow card. From the next scrum Henry Taylor took the ball on and delivered a try scoring pass to Seb Stegmann. Botica converted from the touchline. Soon after, the livewire Taylor and Ross Chisholm are replaced by Jordan Burns and Ollie Lindsay-Hague respectively.
When Quins give away a penalty at the scrum London Welsh kick for touch for an attacking lineout close to the Harlequins try line. Short work is made of the situation and although the Welsh forwards can't get the ball over the line it is soon passed to left wing Ashley Smith who scores out wide. Ryan Davies converted although he may like to think about changing his run-up routine, as twice in the game Charlie Walker came very close to charging down his conversions. Straight from the kick-off Harlequins look to get to work when Stegmann catches the ball, but as it goes through the Quins hands a mix-up in midfield sees Davies intercept the ball and move it out to Holmes who sprints the 50m or so to score. After Davies converts the try Harry Allen and Sam Twomey replace Rob Buchanan and Charlie Matthews.
Harlequins continue to press at every opportunity and a combination of speed and footwork from Lindsay-Hague, backed up by some sterling work from Luke Wallace, results in Sam Smith being bundled over for the bonus point try. Another kick from wide out gives Botica no trouble whatsoever,_and the score moves to 17 – 31. With around 25 min of the second half played schoolboy Frankie Taggart replaces fellow schoolboy James Chisholm at blindside flanker. A further penalty to harlequins sees Botica take any easy 3 points after maybe a little too much discussion. The scoreboard continues to move in Quins favour when a Welsh attack breaks down on Harlequins 10m line and Stegmann picks up the ball and sprints 60m unopposed to score under the posts for another 7 pointer. The game is now over as a contest although the Welsh continue to show the same spirit and determination and ultimately force the ball over the Harlequins try line only for it to be ruled held up after some great defensive work. From the resultant scrum, replacement winger James Ngwa goes over in the corner, while Davies fails to convert. Final score is London Welsh 22 – 41 Harlequins.
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Second well done to all at Quins who managed to get the change in venue sorted. With only a few hours notice you did really well.
Interesting to see Botica on kicking duty ahead of Rory, but with a 100% record WOW
Also many thanks to QUINTEN POULSEN for your excellent match report. PADDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
