By Ralph
January 18 2006

December 2005 saw some the hardest run of games so far this season with away trips to Bedford and Plymouth before returning home for a rare home game over the Christmas period against local rivals London Welsh.

ROUND ELEVEN - v. Bedford (a) 

I imagine it was widely thought that Bedford away was going to be a toughie this season, so it caused much delight to the visiting fans that Quins found themselves 10 – 0 up after only four minutes, courtesy of the blistering pace of Simon Keogh and the accurate goal kicking of Andrew Mehrtens. It was also a testament to the strength of Miall and Evans in the lineout as well as the whole team’s commitment in the tackle area that time and again in the first half possession was regained. Old King’s No. 8’s report highlights one particular moment in the first half where, spurning the chance at goal, Bedford kicked for the corner only to be denied possession at the resulting 5m lineout by Simon Miall. The half ended on a positive note for Quins, with a beautiful miss-pass from Mehrtens leading to a Tom Williams try allowing us to go in 20 – 3 up. The start of the second half turned into somewhat of a horror show for Quins with a quick Bedford score early on, followed by the sin binning of Vos. The numerical advantage showed and Bedford grabbed a second score to leave the match teetering at nerve shredding 23 – 17 with a quarter to play. To Quins’ credit we toughed it out and as soon as Andre Vos returned to the field we were notable stabilized by his presence. Further traded penalties led to a final score of 26 – 20. If we return to the premiership it is that kind of mental toughness which will stand us in good stead, and though I enjoyed my first grandstand nail biting final 5 (I wasn’t at Otley thank god) it was certainly a reminder that most games at the next level go down to the wire. Before I inevitably announce that you voted Mehrtens Man of the Match, a brief mention should go to Soane Tonga’uhia from Bedford who certainly stood out for the opposition for his sheer size and the speed at which he was able to move it around the pitch. So….. Andrew Mehrtens once again scooped the Man of the Match award with 60% of the 177 votes, with OKN8 saying he “held Quins together throughout and produced an exceptional all-round performance in the face of adversity”. Miall and Vos both deserve huge plaudits too, in my opinion, for holding the repossession and defensive departments together throughout the match. 

Round Eleven: Andrew Mehrtens

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ROUND TWELVE - v. Plymouth (a) 

Those who travelled to Plymouth certainly weren’t expecting any respite in the nail biting stakes for what AlanQuin's report described as a “determined physical encounter with Quins grinding out a victory, twice coming from behind to win”. Indeed Quins went in at half time 16 – 11 down having been out scored two tries to one (Nick Easter adding to his tally). The second half saw Mehrtens chipping away at this lead through four penalties to leave the final score 16 – 23 in Quins favour. Judging from AlanQuin's report a lot of the second half was spent in the Plymouth half but a combination of wily defence and enforced errors saw Quins fail to turn this field position into tries. A draw was nearly salvaged for Plymouth in injury time with an attacking lineout after Easter had been binned, but Quins repelled the rolling maul and Mehrtens kicked for touch from the resulting penalty to bring the final whistle. AlanQuin singled out Jordan Turner Hall for particular praise and it is great to see some of the young guys being tested in genuinely difficult matches rather than just rolled out for the lower league teams. Andrew Mehrtens won the Man of the Match poll with 42% of the 117 votes.

Round Twelve – Andrew Mehrtens

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ROUND THIRTEEN – v. London Welsh 

Round Thirteen briefly looked like it was turning into an unlucky fixture for us after Welsh forced their way back into a game which looked dead going into the second half. Instead, with a try scoring bonus point already bagged, Quins showed a neighbourly spirit by going to sleep for large portions of the second half and Welsh came away with a well deserved bonus point for their efforts. Quins scored seven tries in total with Tom Williams (x2), George Harder, Nick Easter, Simon Keogh, Luke Sheriff and Gavin Duffy all getting on the score sheet. Indeed, JTD’s report highlighted a storming return for George Harder to the starting team and mentions Gavin Duffy’s newly developing role as line breaking centre in the absence of either Deane or Greenwood (or indeed both!). The report is also notable for JTD describing Steve Lander’s style as “jazz refereeing”. Are you sure you got all the consonants right in that sentence, John? Tom Williams is rewarded for his two tries and continued inspiration when he is given the freedom to play “on the hoof” with a 30% of the 132 vote to be named Man of the Match. George Harder and Simon Keogh came in joint second place. 

Round Thirteen: Tom Williams

So, unsurprisingly Andrew Mehrtens is up for Man of the Month again, with Tom Williams also in the mix. I think it is grossly unfair that no forwards are currently represented in the poll, since our wins on the road at Bedford and Plymouth were undoubtedly the product of their fruitful work at the set piece, in the loose and in creating a haranguing defence which allowed us to turn over ball in crucial defensive situations. I am therefore going to add Simon Miall whose presence we will only truly miss should he get injured and who I don’t think has missed a first team game this season? I wouldn’t expect that statistic to change before the summer in his current form. I am also going to add Andre Vos whose mental toughness and general attitude I am sure helps the team through the situations where we need to “tough it out” like at Bedford or come from behind as in Plymouth. I am also going to add Gavin Duffy who has tended to get honourable mentions in all reports and who has shown he has the skills to adapt from full back to centre with ease, even in a series of makeshift centre partnerships having been played “out of position” alongside Greenwood, Masson, Turner Hall and Harder in the centre at one time or another so far this season.

  

Man of the Month December 2005:

Andrew Mehrtens
Tom Williams

Simon Miall
Andre Vos
Gavin Duffy