By Alanquin
February 4 2013

Harlequins won their final pool game in the LV= Anglo-Welsh Cup defeating a stubborn Ospreys team by 12 – 16. In doing so they finished as top seeds and earned a semi-final at The Stoop against Bath on the weekend of 9/10 March.

The pitch was waterlogged, the rain was persistent and the conditions militated against running rugby.   Notwithstanding the conditions Quins attempted to play in their usual style, and despite some unforced errors, largely succeeded although the Ospreys’ committed and determined defence prevented the conversion of several scoring chances.

The initial attack from Quins was led by a fine break from Tom Guest but the defence stood firm and the pressure was relieved by a penalty to the Welsh. Another penalty soon allowed the Ospreys’ fly half, Morgan, to open the scoring.  From the restart Quins mounted another concerted and determined attack that ended with Botica being held up over the try line.  From the scrum that followed, Quins again pressed hard and this time Chisholm was held up over the line, However, the referee was playing a penalty advantage and Botica took the opportunity to level the scores..

Quins continued to attack.  They had the bulk of the possession and the territory and a penalty at a scrum allowed Botica to put Quins into the lead after fifteen minutes. Another penalty at a scrum allowed Clegg to find an excellent touch deep in the Welsh twenty-two, but Dave Ward’s throw at the lineout was not straight and the pressure lifted.

Then Sam Smith charged down an attempted clearance and following up chipped the ball on.  Unfortunately the in goal area had been drastically shortened because of standing water and the ball beat Smith across the dead ball line. The weather, too, was deteriorating with the rain increasing in ferocity.

Then from a penalty when Steggman had been tackled in the air, Quins mounted another attack and another good break from Guest took play close to the Welsh line and Hopper cut through and stretched forward for the try.  Botica duly added the extras and Quins led 3 – 13. The Ospreys began to fight back with a little greater intensity and as the half drew to a close two penalty chances allowed Morgan to reduce the deficit to just four points.

A good Quins attack started the second half and again Chisholm was stopped a couple of feet from the line.   A penalty allowed Quins to attempt a catch and drive from the attacking lineout and another penalty followed for a side entry.  But this time Ward overthrew his jumpers and the Ospreys escaped again.

A penalty at a scrum allowed Morgan to reduce Quins’ lead to a single point.  With only nine minutes remaining, Dave Ward stole an overthrown Ospreys ball at a lineout and when he was stopped Ospreys conceded a penalty at the breakdown. Botica, unusually, missed with his kick at gaol.  With only four minutes remaining, Morgan also missed with a long range attempt to win the game,  With the final kick of the match Botica was successful with a last penalty as Harlequins ended with another win

After the match Conor O’Shea expressed his delight at the result and the way that his young players had performed and made clear his intention to retain this team for the semi-final despite expectin Bath to appear with their full strength side.