Quins Carry Out Bank Raid

Bank of England hosted Harlequin Amateurs on Saturday for the second league fixture of the season, in what turned out to be an incredible turn around for Quins.

After a morning of heavy rain, the clouds parted just in time for kick off so that the afternoon’s entertainment could be played out in perfect conditions. Quins knew they were in for a tough start to the season from the off set, having to play both of the sides that came down from Herts/Middx 1 last season. But after only narrowly losing to Old Millhillians last week, they knew the challenge could be met. However, unlike last week where we found ourselves 0-17 up at half time, this week Quins were blown away by the kind of high paced, high physicality game that "Bank" play. Not helped by our own lethargic start to the game. Despite set piece working well, and Quins showing glimpses of what they can do when they had the ball, our first up tackling and discipline let us down in the first 20 minutes and we found ourselves 19-0 down to three well worked "Bank" tries.

Quins did manage to put together a try of our own, Alec Smail muscling his way over from short range. George Jaques slotting the conversion.

The fight back was put on hold for the rest of the first half as more indiscipline and soft defence allowed "Bank" to score a further two tries and a penalty. The first half ended with the score at 32-7 to Bank of England, and an increasingly impossible hill to climb for Quins.

Stern words at half time, and the opportunity to regroup clearly did the job as Quins started the second half almost unrecognisable from their first half display. The forwards became increasingly dominant over their counter parts with Harry Stark, playing his first game in the front row since Colts rugby, and a new second row partnership of Simon Rowland and Joe Watkins particularly standing out. With clean, fast ball, fly half George Jaques was able to step, fend and gas his way over for two tries in quick succession. Converting one of them to bring the score to 32-19.

With the wind in their sails, Quins continued to gain ascendancy in the match. Even the sin binning of the founding member of "Smash Club", Alex Horsfall, seemed to galvanise Quins, who managed to score another well worked try through Aaron Addis while down to 14 men. Ash Armel-Close was introduced at this point and immediately showed why he fully deserves membership into "Smash Club" by flattening his opposite number a number of times with big carries. Quins were now playing at a level not previously seen in this game, and arguably during the entirety of last season too, and managed to score the try of the game next, George grabbing his Hat Trick after great carries and offloading from nearly every Quins player. The conversion took us into the lead for the first time in the game, 32-33.

The tables had fully turned now, and it was Bank of England's lack of discipline that kept them pegged back in their half. One indiscretion led to a penalty George converted to take the score to 32-36.

With less than a score separating the sides, Quins new that a single lapse in concentration would undo all their hard work. But they were in no mood to give up the lead and Ash was rewarded for his impact by crashing over for a try. George again converting to take the score to 32-43.

With time running out, Quins rounded off their try scoring for the afternoon with another well worked try. Working through a number of phases, setting the pace of the game and controlling the contact zones, Quins were able to release George for his fourth try of the afternoon. The conversion brought the scores to 32-50.

To their credit, "Bank" never let their heads drop, and have a squad that is capable of scoring from near enough anywhere on the park. They did manage to put together an unconverted try of their own, scored by their dangerous running full back. 50-37.

At the restart the referee signalled that we were into the last play of the game, and as if four tries wasn't enough to show his skill set, George decided to grubber the restart into space, regather the ball and boot it into touch to end the game.

MoM went to George for another solid shift at ten, despite not being able to admit he is a ten.

DoD went to George for a between the legs pass to nobody. Although everyone is looking forward to the speciality beer that Alex is bringing to the changing room next week for his yellow card.

Overall a great performance from every single Quins player.