Finally!

Dictionary.com defines a nemesis as: an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome. Since joining Herts/Middx 2 in 2014, the 1s have played Old Is twice a season – five games before this one. Each time we have felt that on paper we were the Matches against Old Is are generally a clash of two styles: their big lumps versus our pace. Perhaps due to the geographical proximity of the two clubs, we generally play one another in January and February. Pitches are boggy and heavy. Running rugby is hard to execute. It’s the time of year for a slow, trundling, ball up the jumper game.

As the games have descended into slugfest, Quins have allowed themselves to be drawn into the arm wrestle. A battle we have consistently failed to win. Three seasons: P5 L5.

Old Is have been our nemesis

Opening the curtains on Saturday morning to see blue skies and sunshine therefore gave us a sense of optimism before the game. Spring was definitely in the air and in our step.

Quins kicked off with the sun behind them but the wind in their faces. Who would better play the elements?

For the first couple of minutes the answer was undeniably the away team. Applying pressure from the kick off, Quins were able to win back the ball and after good phase play were awarded a penalty 15 metres out in front of the posts. Keen to get points on the board, George was given the chance to kick for goal.better team with a superior record against other teams in the league.

The strongish wind perhaps was about to have an early influence on the game as the ball was blown from the tee during George’s run up. However, a quick readjustment and Quins were three points up. 0-3.

Quins should have had the tails up. We had started much more brightly and the conditions were allowing us to play an expansive game. Perhaps however we should have remembered that Nemesis was originally the Greek goddess who enacted retribution against those who succumb to hubris.

Whatever the reason, Quins started to allow Is to play their game – big runners off 9 and 10 who we failed to stop with first up tackles. Although a shout to Cameron for his big hit on the Old Is 13.

With holes being punched in our defensive line, it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Try to Old Is but in what became a recurring theme, their kicker failed to add the conversion. 5-3.

Momentum had now swung to Old Is and they continued to play the game their way. Time and again they used their forwards or centres to smash holes and then either flooded the gap or drew in enough Quins defenders to create space out wide.

The loss of the Old Is 13 to injury (had Cam broken him?) did force some rejigging with the number 8 moving to the backline but nevertheless 25 minutes into the game, Old Is had scored two more tries but missed both conversions. 15-3.

It was beginning to look like a tough day at the office for Quins. We knew we had to score next or face an uphill struggle in the second half. Slowly but surely our defence was tightening and as the half wore on, Old Is appeared to be tiring. At last, Michael Barrell crossed the whitewash and Quins had a try of their own. George slotted the kick and we were back within a score. 15-10.

With no further scores in the half, we changed ends with Quins ready for a refreshed Old Is team. We knew we would face 10-15 minutes of attack which we would need to hold out. With a strong bench, we took the opportunity to bring on more bulk; Billy Park coming on for Simon Hubbard.

Billy made an almost immediate impact with a shot on the Old Is 10. This clearly rattled the home playmaker which paid dividends as the game played out.

Having weathered the Old Is storm for the first 10 minutes of the half, it was disappointing to concede again but reassuring that the try was somewhat against the run of play. Again, the kick was missed. 20-10.

The game started to become more niggly with frequent flare ups, cynical play and accusations of punches. The home crowd also did their best to create an intimidating atmosphere. To the ref’s immense credit he maintained control without resorting to cards.

As Old Is started to tire and Quins’ defence grew yet stronger (both in the loose and at the set piece), the home team were forced to play a more cavalier game. Was the fly-half also wary of another tackle from Billy? With a strong wind it was always going to be risky and there was more than one attempted interception from Quins.

Sooner or later though something had to stick and Old Is scored their fifth try around the hour mark 25-10. Quins needed at least three scores in 20 minutes.

All season we have prided ourselves on our fitness and if ever there was a game where we should out last the opposition, this was it. Sure enough we showed strong running in the three quarters from Aaron, Joe and Billy, pace from Michael at fullback and George’s boot (aided by the wind) kept Old Is in their third of the pitch.

If the lineouts were largely going with the throwing team (helped by not all of them being exactly straight), the scrum was more of a lottery with one particularly strong Quins drive disrupting Old Is ball close to the home tryline. Credit to James, Cam and Gareth (now on for Harry).

Finally, George was able to barge over for a try which he kicked (25-17) and our tails started to be up. From the kick-off, we ran it back. A couple of breakdowns, great support and Michael was in the corner. George’s imperious form from the tee continued. 25-24. 9 minutes to go.

The game ebbed and flowed with great runs and solid defence from both teams. There was a feeling however that Old Is were starting to hang on whilst Quins still had a lot more to give. As the game began to wind down, I found myself at the bottom of yet another ruck so I'm relying on Sean for a description of what happened next.

"Old Is tried to spin the ball wide in the middle third. Their 10 had a ginger Hercules (how do I get a rolling eyes emoji in here?) breathing down his neck and knocked on. Our new athletic prop James Letherbarrow pounced and hacked through at which point Paul Hibbert fell over and landed on the ball by mistake thus scoring our bonus point try."

Three minutes to go, George made the kick and Quins were in front 25-31.

It was time for sensible play from Quins. Don’t rush anything, use the wind and keep Old Is pinned back. Likewise, the home team knew that they had to force the game; to compete for that 50:50 ball and hold on to the tackled player that split second longer.

With 30 seconds of the game left, Old Is luck ran out. Quins were awarded a penalty and quickly opted for a shot at goal knowing that George could use up the rest of the time on the clock

And so the game ended almost as it had started – George lining up a penalty attempt. And once again he bisected the uprights to give himself a personal haul of 19 points (and 100% from the tee – 7/7). The successful kick also ensured that the game ended with Quins more than seven points in front and therefore that Old Is didn’t get a losing bonus point. FT 25-34.

This was a massive win for Quins not just in terms of the league (we’re still in the hunt for silverware with two games to go) but perhaps more importantly to get the Old Is monkey off our collective back.

Looking forwards to the 2017/18 season, this game proves that we can beat anybody in the bottom half of HM2. Combined with our win over Bank of England and close games against Watford and Old Millhillians, we’re in a good place for the next campaign.

Man of the Match: Michael Barrell
Honourable mention: Rob Beer