By Hillary Carr
October 5 2005

After last week’s Herts & Middx Division 1 success against Finchley, the Amateurs felt confident going into this game believing they had a clear opportunity to score another success against a side finishing mid-table last season and without a win in two games this season.

Despite being injury-strewn and lacking a regular scrum-half, Quins looked strong from the outset against an ageing, but experienced OGs side, whose scrum worked well all afternoon as a unit, constantly rucking well and using the driving maul to great effect.

And when the Amateurs failed to exert their authority in the opening exchanges and began to give away penalties by the score, and then give away possession, OGs started to believe in themselves. 

After both sides missed opportunities to create any lead through penalties in the first twenty minutes, the second quarter was a frustrating series of forward momentum by the Quins backs after which the ball would be turned over either in the loose play or the initiative lost through being penalised and pushed back 40 metres. This only served to produce a stalemate at the end of the first half 0 – 0, Dan Camacho being sin-binned just shy of the whistle. 

After a good talking to from the coach at half time, Amateurs restarted with renewed vigour but again failed to convert the possession and found themselves again being driven backwards by a well-drilled OG pack.

Ten minutes into the second half Quins conceded two penalties in quick succession to lead 6-0. Quins replied with a penalty from Ross Webster and looked certain to regain the upper hand and win the game… until the defence which had seemed so solid cracked and let the OGs pack drive over for a converted try near the posts. 14-3.

The Amateurs rallied and made several forays deep into OGs territory with some sweeping moves that should have seen them cross the line but for the last pass being dropped.

All the reserves were used trying to get back on level terms and Haarhoff crashed over for a try at the close but it was a case of too little too late. Amateurs left the field knowing that they’d lost the game instead of having been comprehensively beaten by a superior side. Final score: 16 – 8.

Harlequin Amateurs: 1. Lawrence 2. Pitt 3. Rose 4. Newman 5. Grover 6. Camacho 7. Wilcox 8. Dewar 9. Baines 10. Webster (c) 11. Birbeck 12. Hurst 13. Wallace 14. Fretwell 15. Ah-Sun 16. Haarhoff 17. Williams 18. Hawley

Quins scorers: Try: Haarhoff Penalty: Webster

Harlequin Amateurs are grateful for the sponsorship and support of PSL, Telcap, Hero and HPA members.