Positives For Quins Despite Defeat

Saturday saw Quins Ams travel to Reigate RFC for their first pre season fixture of the campaign. A strong squad made the journey down the M25 despite no fewer than 19 players being unavailable due to holidays, injuries or hangovers (Tut tut), which shows a strength in depth in the club that we haven’t had for a number of years.

The game was split into four quarters to allow for player and positional rotation, but it wasn’t until the third quarter that the game really came to life. The score had remained at 7-5 to the hosts until this point, and had largely been a bit of an arm wrestle, with both sides a little over excited to be playing their favourite game again. The Quins try came courtesy of Joe Watkins, playing at 13, after a fine break down the touchline from Alec Smail.

As the third quarter began, the Reigate team came out of the blocks far quicker than their counterparts and had scored two further scores to give them a 21-5 lead with the final 20 minutes to go.

The last quarter kicked off in much the same fashion. With strong Reigate ball carries and some good old “up the jumper rugby”. Another score for the home team left the score at 26-5 with fifteen minutes to play.

It could be that our fitness started to show, or that we finally decided to play rugby, or perhaps both, but the Quins team came to life and scored three well worked tries, two from MoM George Jaques and one from prop Harry Stark, his first five pointer for the club.

Unfortunately the final whistle went after George’s touchline conversion and the scoreline ended 26-22.

Plenty of positives can be taken from the game. None more so than welcoming our debutants to the game of rugby. Well done to Jimmy Lynch, Graeme Green and Aaron Aryan for getting their first taste of rugby. Welcome to the club chaps! Another positive being the evident versatility of our players. Hookers on the wings and wingers in the second row. Cheers boys ;).

The next pre season fixture is at Broom Road on 1st September when we welcome Rayne’s Park RFC.