Long Wait for Quins Ends in Disappointment

For a long 18 months Harlequin Amateurs have been itching to get back to where they belong and play league rugby. The wait was over this weekend as they travelled to Barnes to play last years Hert/Middlesex 3 champions, London French.

It wasn't the best of starts as despite meeting early to travel down together the traffic through West London was horrendous causing a delay in getting there and the coach being the last to arrive.

None the less there was a good team spirit in the changing room and whilst warming up and running through the team plays.

The game started with Quins kicking off against the breeze and the slope. London French from a resulting lineout sliced through the defence through their outside centre, but was eventually brought down, for about 5-10 minutes Quins defended valiantly stealing the ball and clearing their lines.

Now it was Quins turn to attack, and it was working so well, the forwards were dominating the contact area and backs were making gains with ball in hand. French infringed and the captain signalled to the corner, lineout one the maul got to within the 5m line then lost momentum, the ball zipped out to the backs to be met by an offside French defence. Not hesitating George Jaques went for the points and continued where he left off last season as it sailed though the posts, 0-3.

London French kicked off straight into touch, with Quins dominating the resultant scrum it was looking good for Quins. The only point of concern was the amount of penalties being conceded, which allowed French to clear lines and take a few attempts at goal, after a couple of misses French did manage to slot one to tie it up at 3*-3.

The possession and territory stats would have been very telling if we had any way of recording it. Quins were bossing the game as George intercepted a French attempt to run it out and scored under the posts. A successful conversion again from George 3-10.

Quins were picking up energy winning most rucks and scrums even against the head. Yards being made through Alec Smail, George Jaques and Jason Edmunds. French looked like they were out of ideas, and when George ran through two tackles to score his brace under the posts once again Quins were flying. another successful kick score 3-17.

But again the penalty count kept going up and up, and French punished Quins through the boot of their kicker to finish the half 6-17. Quins couldn't have wished for a better start to their league campaign that the first half.

Except however the beginning of the 2nd half, Mike Lovelock knocking on a the restart gave French and attacking scrum that they flung wide. On the second phase Joe Watkins intercepted and ran to the halfway line before offloading to Mike Lovelock who put Jason Edmunds through under the posts, George carrying on his 100% start added the extras 6-24.

Now whether it was complacency or lack of fitness or something else Quins foot came right off the accelerator and the tight game we had been playing and dominating with turned into a loose flair game, playing into the hands of the French backline. French kept up the pressure and their scrum half snuck round what had been a fiercely defended ruck area in the first half to record French's first try. The conversion was successful 13-24.

Despite the coach's and the ref's warnings of the penalty count, Quins kept conceding in danger areas, which the French kicker kept trying to convert, one was successful, 16-2.

Woody, he with the reputation of conceding penalties, had so far had a quiet game where the ref was concerned. Then with a rush of blood and adrenaline, took out the French 6 in the air, to earn his first yellow of the season and contributing a crate of beers to the cause. But not only that managed to injure himself in the process, hope the neck feels better soon.

With their tails up and the momentum completely against Quins, French playing the stereotypical French way were intent on running at us from all angles, and with the very dangerous full back Quins kept getting sucked into the middle only to see a French back three player going wide. French scored three unconverted tries without reply to lead 31-24.

Only now did Quins wake up and pushed deep into French territory, with 1 minute to go French had a scrum that Quins hooker Mark Taylor stole, with the ball at the back of the scrum, the referee decided to reset with a French put in. French again tried to play but passed it into touch for the final whistle to go 31-24.

I have never felt more disappointed when leaving a pitch and I know a lot of players felt the same, we must learn from this loss and never let it be repeated.

Last year we were Middlesex Merit Table 6 possible the lowest league in the country, and now we are gutted that we lost away to one of the stronger teams in the league, that proves how far we've come in such a short time. But we must kick on. Next week face Saracens Amateurs as we look to avenge the pros result from a week ago.

Training on Thursday is back at St Mary's and we need a good turnout to be able to train and prepare for the weekend.

Man of the Match - Simon Rowland
D**k of the Day - Mitchell Collins