By Alanquin
December 24 2003

It was clearly a good idea to make the reserve league into a meaningful competition. It would provide players outside the regular first team and the associate professionals and Academy players with competitive matches and something more to play for than hoping to impress their coaches.

In the friendly matches that led up to the start of the league, Harlequins 2nd XV had been regularly running in six tries per match and had already put both Bath and Northampton to the sword and easily defeated Cambridge University and the Army.

It was a shock, therefore, when the first league match, away to Gloucester, was lost. Clearly this league was not going to be a pushover. Well after watching Saracens field a team which lacked in skill, invention and any organisation and with a virtually non-existent defence, it became clear that they did not care about the reserve league. If I am wrong, then they are destined to be comprehensively defeated by every team they play. If I am right then they have devalued the competition and should be ashamed.

Harlequins 2nd XV, as I have tried to impress upon readers of this series of reports, are the very bright future of the club. The backs are fast and run delightful lines and score tries freely, mostly under the posts. The half backs led by Adrian Jarvis provide good fast ball and the handling skills are a joy to watch, improving as confidence grows and scores follow.

Jarvis (Andy Hancock)

The loose forwards are also quick and mobile and encouraged by the backs also participate in the free running attacks. Even the tight forwards are known to run with the ball.

 
Tight Forwards Rumbling (Andy Hanccock)

On Monday night it took precisely three minutes before Henry Barratt ran down the wing and round under the posts to open the scoring. Subsequently he added two further scores. Full back, Tom Williams, an exciting runner, had one of his best performances with three tries and a major part in at least two more. Andy Reay, forceful in attack and sound in defence added two tries as did Rob Jewell who had a better game than usual because he had greater freedom and better service of the ball.

The forwards had their share of the scores with tries from Jon Dawson, Luke Sherriff, and James Hayter. Mike Brown, who replaced Henry Barratt on the wing, added the last try. Jarvis converted 11 out of 14 tries.

One of many (Andy Hancock)

If I have disappointed my readers in not detailing every move, attack and defence, it was game that did not merit that detail. It was very entertaining to watch and one could admire the skills on display by the Harlequins. But it was just not competitive and ultimately meaningless. The men in black need to add some sackcloth and ashes to their outfits.

Team: HARLEQUINS: 15. Tom Williams, 14. Rob Jewell, 13. Tom Allen, 12. Andy Reay, 11. Henry Barratt, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Ben Willis, 1. Reg Dejager, 2. James Hayter, 3. Jon Dawson, 4. Tom Parker, 5. Karl Rudzki, 6. Chris Cracknell, 7. Luke Sherriff (Capt), 8. Kai Horstmann Replacements: 16. Cameron Dott, 17. Gareth Rise, 18. Gavin Hart, 19. TBC, 20. Duncan James, 21. Mike Brown

SCORES: Tries: Barratt (3min, 24, 68), Williams (12, 45, 60) Reay (21, 57) Jewell (40, 49) Dawson (30) Hayter (42) Sherriff (54) Brown (80) Cons: Jarvis 11 out of 14 attempts