ITALIAN JOB WELL COMPLETED: Harlequins 53 - 5 Zebre

A second multi-try demolition of Zebre, on this occasion by 53 – 5, leaves Harlequins in command of Pool Three of the Heineken Cup and in touching distance of a home quarter final.

A knock on from the kick off and a free kick from the scrum that followed was all it took for Quins to make clear their intent as they opted for a scrum option.  Their scrum had dominated play in the previous meeting between these teams and Quins clearly intended that superiority at scrum time should continue, Despite the changes in the pack Quins forwards were always in control of the set piece,

A quick tapped penalty in front of the posts led to another and this time Quins took the points on offer as Nick Evans opened the scoring in the third minute.  A penalty at a rolling maul drew a warning from the referee to the Italian captain.  Then good ball off the lineout which followed saw Evans accurate grubber kick through the defence for Tom Casson to run on and touch down for the first try.  The simple conversion extended the score to !0 – 0 after seven minutes.

In the previous meeting between these teams it had taken a good part of the first half to subdue the Italians and despite the early score it was to do so again. A kick and chase deep into Harlequins’ territory needed the speed and great skill of Evans to clear the danger.  A penalty kick from just inside the Quins’ half missed the target, but it was the Italian team that posted the next score as the fly half, Orquera, broke through a gap in the Quins’ defence and the full back, Trevisan, was there to take the scoring pass for the try.  The conversion attempt failed and with an half hour gone the score was 10 – 5.

The penalty count against the visitors continued to rise.  Evans duly slotted one to increase the gap in the score to 13 – 5.  A yellow card for diving into a ruck was shown to of the Italian centres.  Harlequins opted for a scrum and with the Italian back driven irresistibly towards the try line, its collapse brought and inevitable penalty try that Evans converted. The score at the interval was 20 – 5.

At the interval Botica replaced Monye and went to full back with Brown moving to the left wing.  Almost immediately Quins were on the attack from a quick penalty and Botica sliced through the defence to score Quins’ third try duly converted by Evans.  The first yellow card having expired, it took barely three minutes for the Italians to earn another with one of their props sent to the sin-bin for an offence in a ruck. The kick found touch close to the Italian try line and the catch and drive eventually rumble over the line for Easter to score the try and Evans duly added the extras.

With the game clearly won and the bonus point secure, Quins began to make substitutions. Hopper and Easter were replaced by Turner-Hall and Wallace.  Quins continued to move the ball about and attack and with the ball moved crisply right Sam Smith cruised over for another score which Evans converted.   Quins duly emptied their bench and the realignments necessary found Danny Care on the right wing.  He was there when a superb break by Smith and an excellent pass put Care on a forty metre run for another try,   Evans conversion attempt slid wide.

Another yellow card for the Italians with only five minutes remaining allowed a quickly taken penalty giving Dickson opportunity to score the final try that Evans duly converted to take the final score to 53 – 5.

Another efficient performance ensured that Harlequins march serenely on towards the quarter-finals and a likely home tie as they top the pool with ten points lead on their nearest rivals.