By Old Kings' Number 8
January 15 2006

There can be no talk of bad luck now. Saturday saw Otley arrive at the Twickenham Stoop for the return fixture of the match at Cross Green in September which saw the Yorkshiremen come within seconds of causing a massive upset, only to be denied by a last-ditch try from Mel Deane.

The general consensus after that match was that Otley had deserved the win, notwithstanding the fact that the only reason enough injury time had been available for Quins to steal the win was that Otley had made such an effort to run the clock down in the first place.

However, it was not long after Otley kicked-off on an overcast day at the Stoop that it became clear they were not holding out any hope of snatching the points out from under Quins’ nose. The plan was clearly damage limitation, although the unsubtle and underhand methods employed backfired spectacularly, resulting in three sin-binnings and scuppering any hope that Otley, playing in blue, had of crossing the Harlequins try-line, let alone winning the match. Quins, on the other hand, appeared to have regained their league form, containing the visitors in the first half before turning up the heat in the second and, ultimately, running away with it.

The excellent Quins front row ©Prof

Otley conceded their first penalty within two minutes of kick-off, the ref having a word with their number 4, Jason Oakes. Jarvis found touch on the Otley 10-metre line, but the throw to Vos wasn’t straight. Nevertheless, the Quins front row dominance became immediately apparent, as Otley were penalised for collapsing their own scrum and Jarvis pegged them back into their 22. The line-out ball again went to Vos at the back, who drove up the middle. Unfortunately, although the ball found its way to Charlie Amesbury, Quins knocked on with five metres to go.

Otley’s clearance from the scrum, under pressure from the Quins backs, didn’t make it to their 22. Although Quins had set up camp in the Otley half and were recycling the ball well, Greenwood was not given enough time on the ball to find a way through and a knock-on eventually conceded possession. Otley were awarded a free-kick at the scrum and Oakes took it forward to set up the ruck. A good chip over the Quins defence saw Mike Brown race back and do well to clear the danger to Quins’ 22. Evans stole the ball at the line-out and Jarvis hoisted the ball over the Otley midfield. The unfortunate catcher received the ball and Charlie Amesbury in quick succession as the Quins winger more than made up for the absence of George Harder. At the ruck, the Otley hooker, Mark Luffman, was then sent to the bin for stamping with 10 minutes on the clock.

One of Jarvis' darting runs ©BarQuin Mad

Jarvis kicked the penalty to the Otley 22, but a very long throw to Easter was deemed not to be straight and Otley brought on their replacement hooker for the scrum. Otley kicked the ball up-field only for Mike Brown to collect it and run it back at them with Greenwood in support. Quins again were able to go through several phases until Otley were penalised for off-side. Simon Miall collected the ball at the line-out on the Otley 10 metre line and So’oialo sent Jarvis off on one of his darting runs. The ball was recycled quickly and a long pass from Greenwood found Amesbury who was stopped in sight of the line. Otley were penalised for off-side again and Quins quickly drove the ball over for the first try, Ceri Jones scoring his fifth in three matches. AJ executed a precise conversion and Quins were 7-0 up with 14 minutes gone.

Ceri Jones scores again ©Prof

From the restart the forwards and backs combined some good passing to move into the Otley half only for Amesbury to be brought down by the first of several high tackles. Jarvis went for the corner and the long throw again went to Vos, Fuga running round in support only to receive a high tackle himself, although it went unpunished despite the fact that Fuga dropped the ball as a result. Otley cleared from the scrum and Mike Brown again did excellently with the catch under pressure. Fuga appeared from nowhere to run the ball back up-field and produced a good passing move with the rest of the pack who then released the backs, Greenwood being stopped just short of the line. Otley were awarded a penalty, perhaps for holding on, to relieve the pressure, but Quins were clearly beginning to dominate following the first try.

Jim Evans on the hoof ©AndyH

Otley kicked again from their line-out, Charlie Amesbury taking the catch but then receiving a dose of his own medicine as Rob Whatmuff clattered into him, resulting in a knock-on. The Quins defence held firm, however, with Vos at the centre of things as usual. Otley eventually crept off-side again and Jarvis put the Quins line-out on the half-way line. Easter and Greenwood combined well again to make ground and Quins kept up the pressure recycling the ball well until Otley were penalised for slowing the ball down. So’oialo took the quick tap, with Vos and Fuga (again!) in support. Greenwood again made it to within inches of the line, but squandered the opportunity when Otley were able to turn over the ball and clear to their 22.

Quins made a mess of a short line-out to and gave Otley the opportunity to hoof the ball back down-field, but again Mike Brown was there to receive the kick and put Amesbury and then, for the first time, Keogh, on the attack. However, another knock-on saw possession returned to Otley, but the lack of invention (perhaps the result of Simon Binns’s absence) saw another speculative punt down-field, this time straight to Keogh who did well under the kick but didn’t have the support to avoid being penalised for holding on. Otley took an age over the resulting penalty, which was eventually slotted on 30 minutes to leave the score at 7-3.

Easter on the charge ©AndyH

Quins turned over the ball shortly after the restart, Keogh and Greenwood slicing through the Otley defence only for Vos to spill the pass that might have produced another try. As time ticked down towards half-time, Otley tried to raise their game, running the ball hard at the Quins defence, but making no in-roads at all. They were lucky not to be picked up for a knock-on, and the touch judge also missed the forward pass that followed shortly thereafter, but it was picked up by the ref and Quins had a scrum on the half-way line. Easter fumbled the ball badly but the Otley scrum was turned 90E to regain possession. Keogh chased a kick up-field and Quins turned over the ball on Otley’s 22. When Otley were penalised for off-side, Jarvis took the three points to put Quins on 10 points to Otley’s 3 with 38 minutes gone.

Jim Evans collected the restart ball and Otley couldn’t hold onto So’oilao’s box-kick. Wilson was penalised for not binding at the scrum and AJ put the line-out on the Otley 10 metre line. Nick Easter broke through the Otley defence and Quins were awarded a scrum 5 metres out. Easter picked up at the back and offloaded to So’oialo, who drove towards the line. Otley were penalised again for being offside at the ruck and Kris Fullman, the Otley prop, was sent to the bin. The ball was spun out wide to Amesbury who scored in the corner. Jarvis was unable to add the conversion from the touch-line, but Quins went in at half-time 15-3 to the good.

Greenwood takes the ball up ©BarQuin Mad

From the restart Duffy immediately put pressure on the Otley line as he followed up his own nasty grubber-kick. Otley eventually cleared to their own 22, and were able to steal Quins’ line-out ball. However, Vos was clearly having none of it and turned the ball over again for it to be shipped out to the backs. Although Otley’s defence held, they were finally penalised for killing the ball and Jarvis attempted the cross-kick for Amesbury, but the defender got there first and cleared to the 22. Fuga drove from the line-out and quick hands saw Quins with an overlap and certain to score in the corner, until the Otley fly-half, Ian Shuttleworth, deliberately knocked the ball on. The referee signalled a penalty try and sent Shuttleworth to the bin for his efforts, where his unprofessional response to the crowd’s baiting failed to win him any friends. Jarvis made short work of the conversion and Quins were 22-3 up.

Otley’s restart failed to travel 10 metres and Vos elected the scrum on the centre spot. Otley were caught napping and when the ball found its way to Keogh the winger produced an absolute gem of a try, going round two defenders with ease and breaking a third attempted tackle to power himself in under the posts as the Stoop erupted. AJ added the conversion to put Quins 29-3 up with 10 minutes of the second half gone.

The Otley fly-half has to leap to make a high tackle on Will Greenwood ©AndyH

Fuga was involved again from the restart, before Quins chased a kick up-field. Otley were again unable to do anything with the possession and quickly knocked-on. Duffy began to get more involved after a quiet first half and Amesbury was sent flying in under the posts from another slick backs move, only to be pulled back for a forward pass. Otley were driven into touch from the scrum and from the line-out the ball was hacked forward with the back chasing hard. Unfortunately, Otley were able to help the ball into the north stand and So’oialo made a mistake at the scrum, dropping the ball and relieving the pressure on the Otley line. Fuga again drove the ball on from the line-out and produced a wonderful off-load for Ceri Jones, who was unable to hold on.

From the scrum, Otley produced their only real attacking play of the day, although it required another forward pass to be missed by the officials. For once, Otley found themselves in possession in the Quins 22, but Duffy was on hand to make the interception and ensure that the Quins try-line remained untouched. Another penalty for killing the ball saw Otley’s brief territorial advantage immediately wiped out, although the drive up the field from Miall and Jones was brought to an end when Fuga knocked on. Fuga and Vos were then replaced by Jimmy Richards and Tom Guest.

Miall takes another lineout ©AndyH

Otley again found themselves kicking for touch to get off their own try-line. Great hands from Duffy and Amesbury saw Quins move back up towards the try-line, before Greenwood set up a ruck allowing So’oialo to make one of his trademark breaks. Jarvis was in support and took the pass putting him in for his second try in as many matches. AJ converted his own score, leaving Quins 36-3 up with 14 minutes of the half remaining. Greenwood, So’oialo and Miall were then replaced by Mel Deane, Ian Vass and Pablo Bouza respectively.

This week the replacements seemed to make no difference to the flow of the game, unlike the London Welsh game, and Amesbury made another good break straight from the restart. Quins were awarded a scrum inside the Otley 10 metre line and Lorne Ward came on for Ricky Nebbett. However, Quins lost possession and Otley put another seemingly aimless kick up-field, although they were able to regain possession when a Quins scrum turned 90E. Mike Brown put in a huge tackle, however, and Quins turned over possession. A superb kick was chased hard, but Otley were able to clear to their 10 metre line. Easter took the line-out ball and drove up field, where a bit of handbags ended with Lorne Ward swatting Whatmuff to the ground. From the scrum, the ball was passed quickly out to Amesbury who was on a great line and far too quick for the Otley defenders to get close. Jarvis knocked over his fifth conversion to put the score oat 43-3, where it stayed.

Another Jarvis break ©AndyH

Quins can certainly be pleased with this performance, which saw a professional job done in the face of some adversity. Very few penalties were conceded, and whilst Jarvis could have punished Otley more for their penalties with longer kicks, he produced a confident, settled performance capped with a fine try. Unlike the match at Cross Green, the Quins forwards dominated possession and ensured that the backs had the opportunities to create some often spectacular attacking plays. Whilst a few opportunities went begging, the rain that began to fall in the second half would not have assisted the handling, and in any event Otley were unable to do anything to trouble Quins when they were in possession. The visitors suffered not only from severe indiscipline, but also a total lack of invention in midfield, which saw most possession simply booted up-field with no apparent care for touch. However, this was due at least in part to the fact that Otley often found themselves with their backs against the wall under pressure from Quins. It certainly seems that, after the blip of Welsh and Bees, Quins are back on track, and that’s without Mehrtens. Newbury have cause for concern.