1st XV
Matches
Sat 24 Sep 2016  ·  Herts/Middlesex 2 - Phase 1
Old Millhillians
31
29
Harlequin Amateurs Rugby Club
1st XV
Tries: J Watkins, G Jaques (2), A SmailConversions: G Jaques (3)Penalties: G JaquesYellow Carded: H Stark
So so close

So so close

David Love3 Oct 2016 - 11:33
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First league game comes down to the last kick

Thanks to Will Flaherty for the match report.

Following last week’s convincing victory over Racal Decca and with perfect rugby weather, Quins eagerly approached the game at Old Millhillians expecting a strong test from a team who had been playing in the league above last season.
Quins started the half well with a good level of intensity, however, Quins soon conceded what would be the first of many penalties for the afternoon. The kick was missed by Millhillians and the first scrum of the game soon followed. The Millhillian scrum was strong and provided a good platform for their backs to attack, however, a fast defensive line from the Quins backs put their backs under pressure forcing them to drop the ball which George Jaques duly kicked up field. After some loose play, Joe Watkins was on hand to score the try which George converted (7-0).
The ball came loose from Quins at the kick off, immediately giving Millhillians an opportunity to break. Again the Quins backs defended well, however, a penalty was soon conceded for not releasing. Millhillians chose the scrum which provided a solid base for a blistering attack by their backs, however, Alec Smail defended well to force the penalty with Quins kicking to touch.
A strong attacking display by Millhillians soon followed with Chris Addis making a particularly strong tackle, however, Quins conceded yet another penalty at the breakdown with Millhillians pinning us back in our 22 kicking to touch. Quins were awarded a free kick for hesitation at the line out, the following line out was won by Jack Williams with a strong jumping display, however, the ball was loose off the top inviting pressure. George Jaques cleared well however Quins soon conceded another penalty for being offside. The Millhillian backs attacked well but couldn’t quite produce the end product, partly due to outstanding defending by Quins. Particular mention goes to Alex Horsfall who made a number of big hits.
A good period of play from our backs and a number of our lineouts were convincingly won with Harry Stark taking well off the back of the line. A penalty was conceded by Millhillians and George Jaques duly took the three points kicking from a difficult position into the wind (10-0).
Quins conceded a number of silly penalties from the restart which invited yet more pressure in our half. Millhillians soon had a scrum on our 10 metre line and marched the scrum over, however the forwards held the ball up well. Paul Hibbert played well disrupting the ball off of the back of their scrum but the ball was harshly judged to not be out. The Millhillian dominance at the scrum soon resulted in the referee reaching for the book. Most of us thought Sean was due his first yellow of the season, however Harry was sent off instead. A case of mistaken identity perhaps…?
Quins continued to defend well denying Millhillians and good pressure from George Jaques in defence resulted in him intercepting a pass to run from his own half to score under the posts, he then converted his own try (17-0). Alex Horsfall put his body on the line for the team in defence and ended up being kneed in the head for his efforts.
The Millhillians pack played well for the remainder of the first half with a strong maul, line out and scrummaging display forcing Quins to concede a number of penalties for infractions and conceding more ground through dissent. Millhillians soon found themselves on our line with a rolling maul. However, the Quins defence showed grit and determination to hold the ball up again and deny Millhillians a try. Aaron Addis made a good steal of loose ball at the following ruck with George Jaques making touch to finish the half. Score at half time 17 – 0.

Old Millhillians started the second half with a high level of intensity and they soon found themselves scrummaging near our try line and were eventually awarded a penalty try for persistent wheeling of the scrum by Quins (17-7). Soon after Quins were put under pressure with the Millhillians backs putting together the phases and capitalising on a drop in intensity/concentration from Quins to soon score again and convert (17-14).
Almost immediately from the restart Millhillians soon found themselves racing to our try line again after some missed tackles, however Aaron Addis chased back well to make a try saving tackle near our 5 metre line. Loose defence around the ruck meant that their scrum half could dart over the line for their third try of the second half. The try was converted leaving the score 21-17 to Millhillians. Another try soon followed with the Millhillians backs passing well and running hard, however the conversion was missed (26-17).
Following the restart, Quins found themselves defending a line out around the half way line, however the pack cleverly stood off Millhillians’ attempt at forming a maul and Sean Gorman was rewarded for his nouse by forcing the penalty when he ripped the ball. The momentum seemed to be going Quins way with Alec Smail making a number of strong runs and George Jaques kicking well for territory, however, a period of poor tackling and rapid play from the Millhillians backs resulted in an unconverted try taking the score to 31-17.
Quins soon picked up the intensity and George Jaques made a strong run bursting through a number of tackles to score and convert his own try, taking the score to 31-24 with 7 minutes to go. Millhillians soon found themselves attacking in our half from the kick off, however, James Addis made an outstanding tackle and then cleared out the ruck to win the ball back for Quins. Quins soon found themselves scrummaging in their 22, the forwards did well to keep the ball in the face of a dominant Millhillian scrum with Sean Gorman picking up and kicking the ball into their 22 (despite there only being 2 minutes remaining and everyone screaming for him to keep the ball in hands!). However, Sean soon redeemed himself by tackling the receiver and forcing a penalty for holding on.
Quins then went for the line out which had been working well all day with Luke Nugent throwing well and both Jack Williams and Sean Gorman both a safe pair of hands. A period of good work and ball retention by the forwards culminated with Alec Smail going over for a try in the last play of the game taking the score to 31-29. The kick was from a difficult position and the conversion was missed, final score 31-29.
Quins played well for the majority of the game showing great determination, teamwork and work rate, however a poor third quarter and a very high penalty count gave Old Millhillians the attacking opportunities which they clinically converted in the third quarter of the game. Quins rallied well in the final 10 minutes of the game and certainly deserved the 2 losing bonus points.

Man of the Match – Jack Williams
Dick of the Day - Alex Horsfall

Match details

Match date

Sat 24 Sep 2016

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

12:00

Instructions

Meet at St Marys. If going direct, contact Dave Love

Competition

Herts/Middlesex 2 - Phase 1

League position

5
Harlequin Amateurs
8
Old Millhillians
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsor - MYCO
Club Sponsor - Savills
Club Sponsor - Norman Rourke Pryme LLP