By Worried of Whitton
December 12 2003

In stark contrast to the national side, November was another desperately disappointing month for Harlequins, and their for supporters, with just one win at home and three losses on the trot.

The home win against Northampton was one of the best Harlequins had played at home for some time. I certainly carried broad smile all the following week. This was a true team performance from which it was difficult to select any one player as man of the match. Northampton only scored points on the occasions that Quins were reduced to fourteen men. Ironically a feat that the Harlequins team did not learn, nor could not achieve two weeks later, when for an hour that were unable to get past and beat the Bath XIV! This game and two against Leeds were essentially very close scoring matches but with, what became, monotonous regularity, Quins were unable to press home any advantage they had to come away with a win. We very were unlucky not to get a draw at home against Leeds in the dying minutes of the game, It was difficult to understand why a penalty try was not awarded despite a warning to the Leeds pack.

Although Quins have been knocked out of the Powergen Cup, and currently lie in sixth place in the Zurich Premiership, the season is far from over. Sixth place belies the fact that there are just four points separating the teams placed 2nd to 6th , so we are well placed to attack the second half of the season., which I m sure we will meet with renewed confidence.It was frustrating that after an brilliant home win against Northampton, the rest of the month seemed to fall apart with Quins being defeated three times by some close margins. As the page of the calendar turns to December, our European campaign in the Parker Pen begins, and hopefully we will see a change in fortunes and welcome back George Harder. May be we all need to ask Santa for a sack full of tries.

On the electoral front, November was as close as some of the matches on the pitch. It was a month with some very close voting with many split decisions on who was Man of The Match with a number of very close second placed players too, and indeed a three way tie in one match For the first time there was just one player who topped every poll.

There are six nominees for the award this month, based on the responses received in the weekly polls Interestingly the six nominees are from just three positions, two props, two from the back row and two wingers.

Andre Vos

Andre topped every single Man of the Match Poll in November, which is both remarkable and yet not very surprising. This is in addition to appearing in all the previous weeks’ polls.

Vos against Leeds (Andy Hancock)

As befits the great warrior he is, Vos continues to lead by example even when the chips are down, as exemplified in the Match against Leeds at the Stoop when he continued playing despite having a blooded forehead. There is little more one can ad to what has already been written. Once again this month our Captain Fantastic, has been awesome with his commitment, leadership and performance.

Ceri Jones

Ceri was voted man of the match alongside Vos, for the match against Bath. Ceri has grown in stature and his game has improved dramatically since he arrived from Newport in February this of year. As one of five props the battle for a first team place is intense, and this must have played a part in his game. With Leonard being unavailable, the new front row pairings have been able to bond and develop with each other to provide continuity for the future. Jones has been a very shrewd signing.

Jones waiting for the pass from Ace....(Andy Hancock)

 The regular game plan of replacing part or all of the front row during the game, maintains the Quins defensive dominance and command of the scrum. This is always a fiercely contested part of the game and fresh legs can work wonders mid way through the second half

Simon Keogh

October’s runaway Player of the Month continued where he left off, in the match against Northampton. He came second in the man of the match poll and topped the poll in a three way with Vos and Monye against Leeds away

Keogh and Reay tussle with Glaws (Andy Hancock)

.In an interview with Kev T, Keogh concurred with his fellow countryman, and ex Quin, Keith Wood that he too preferred to play in drier conditions implying the rain played its’ part in the defeats suffered at both Leeds and Bath. Maybe he needs to obtain some wet weather tyres, I always thought that the Irish liked to play in the “liquid sunshine!” He certainly thrived in the much drier conditions against Northampton , picking up a pass from Diprose to score his first try and just six minutes later, a second, as he scorched down the wing . One of the highlights of that afternoon is the enduring memory taken from that game were the cries of “Key-oh , Key-oh” resonating from the East Stand as he returned to his position awaiting for the restart

 
Key-Oh(Barquin Mad)

Unfortunately he has not been on the score sheet since, but with 4 Premiership tries he is hot on Ugo’s heels as Quins’ most prolific try scorer.

Jason Leonard

Jase continues to show his remarkable talent. It is a glowing testament to the man who came on with under 30 minutes to go, was not fazed by the huge standing ovation he received as he ran onto the pitch to replace Worsley, it was just another match. The previous week he was playing for England against Australia in a World Cup final; but this was immaterial, as was the fact this was the first time he was playing alongside the summer recruits. Yet by playing for just half an hour found himself voted as Man of he Match alongside Vos. Leonard’s presence immediately rejuvenated the weary team, as they started to play with a bit more passion and urgency. Leonard was there in the thick of the action as Quins prodded and probed as they camped inside the Leeds 22, desperately trying to break the Leeds defence.

Jase, and Pat, in action against Leeds (Robshew)

Had they played the whole of et second half, like they did in the last 10 minutes maybe the result would have been different. It was sad that Leonard’s efforts couldn’t have been better rewarded than just the one losing bonus point. As we are all aware, Jason has had an extremely rewarding month , both on the pitch with the England Squad at the Rugby World Cup, and of it with the birth of his daughter, Francesca. Many congratulations, Jason, on your new arrival, your 113 England Caps, and for helping to bring “Bill” home where he belongs.

Ugo Monye

Ugo was joint man of the match up at Leeds in the Powergen Cup Match . Surprisingly, he hardly got a mention on the webcast that I listened to. Since his injury, Monye had been fairly quiet on wing and the opposition have obviously been doing their homework in order to slow him down. It was not through lack of effort that he was unable to get on the score sheet, as a string of decisions went against him. Early in the first half following a lineout, the ball was kicked through for Monye to chase, he reached the ball first, and despite appearing to ground the ball but the referee disagreed. He was unlucky to have his second attempt following as set move from a 5 meter scrum, disallowed by the referee, citing that there had been “crossing” As the match progressed Monye was denied once more when he was adjudged to have been on the receiving end of a forward pass, taken at pace on the wing. Later he was also unable to capitalise as he chased a punt by Diprose up field which went into touch. .

Ugo (and Jase) in the quartered shirt (Andy Hancock)

Currently away on England Sevens duty we look forward to seeing Ugo back in the Quartered shirt soon

Pat Sanderson

Voted Man of the Match, by Mark Evans following that epic encounter against Northampton, CAW placed him third. He was also runner up in the match against Bath, but more importantly managed to score a try in both of the matches. Sanderson also has the unenviable title of being the only Quins try scorer in the last three matches in November. Let us hope that this try drought is overcome in December. Indeed it was Sanderson who was the victim of the Bath Flankers’ un-gentlemanly boot! that lead to Bath completing, and winning the match with just 14 players. Sanderson has been the unsung hero of the back row. Everyone focuses upon Vos and Diprose and forget that there is a third “brick” to this defensive wall. He missed a number of games last year through injury and it is good to see him back on a regular basis, and playing so well along side his team mates., who must make up the most formidable back row in the Premiership.

Pat in action against Glaws in Oct (Andy Hancock)

As Sanderson commented in a recent interview with Kev T, “The three of us seem to compliment each other which gives the back row a natural balance, so we don’t really work at doing things as a unit in training. The way all three of us play the game is different and complimentary. We're good pals and we spend a lot of time together outside of the game. When you like each other it's makes the playing side easier. I've been lucky that I've always got on with my back row partners here, but we get on especially well. It means we really work for each other and as a unit the back row becomes bigger than the sum of its parts."

Nominations, therefore, for the CAW November Player of the Month in alphabetical order are:

• Ceri Jones
• Simon Keogh
• Jason Leonard
• Ugo Monye
• Pat Sanderson
• Andre Vos

For sheer dominance on the pitch and for sweeping the board in all the November polls, my vote for the CAW Player of the Month has to go to Andre Vos .