Hard Fought Win For The A Team: Quins 17-14 Gloucs

By AlanQuin
April 12 2006

A close and hard fought victory over Gloucester United at Imber Court by 17 points to 14 left Harlequins ten points clear at the top of the Southern Conference of the Guinness A League. 

Already certain of a place in the Final against Leicester, Quins ground out a win over a very strong Gloucester side containing such notable Premiership players as Terry Fanolua, Marcel Garvey, Adam Balding, Terry Sigley and Mark Cornwell, winning by the difference of an early penalty goal with both sides having two converted tries.

From the start play was mainly in the visitors’ half and Quins’ pressure kept them mostly penned in despite Gloucester attempts to break out.  When they had the chance the Harlequin backs, as usual, sought to run the ball.  Gloucester resisted the pressure with determination, competing at the line-out and defending with commitment. 

Charlie Amesbury had the first attempt to run when a good break by Ian Vass put the winger away but he was forced into touch.  Quins continued to press and then a penalty on the visitors’ twenty-two metre line saw Vass kick the points to open the scoring after seven minutes.

 
A powerful Quins maul drives Gloucester back ©Prof

An off the ball challenge on the Quins’ scrum-half saw the first yellow card of the evening, after eleven minutes, with the Gloucester centre in the bin.  From the resulting penalty Quins attacked with the ball moving through the hands first right and then left until a foot in touch wasted the overlap and the scoring chance.  A further attack was thwarted by a ball lost in the tackle.   A further yellow card, this time for Ian Vass, four minutes after the first saw both teams reduced to 14 men.

This was the prompt for the first series of genuine attacks on the Quins’ line. The penalty following Vass’ offence was kicked for a lineout only ten metres out and although Quins gained possession their attempt to break out foundered on poor passing.  A penalty for an attempted trip at the subsequent scrum left Quins to defend another attacking lineout with a Gloucester catch and drive to follow.  Only excellent defence against the Gloucester forwards’ thrust prevented them crossing.  They moved the ball right and sought to drive again but the defence held firm and a knock on brought a scrum and clearance.

 
George Robson and Agustín Costa Repetto get stuck into a Gloucester Maul ©Prof

Twenty-five minutes had elapsed when Gloucester were gifted the chance which led to their first try.  Amesbury, attempting to catch a high ball, saw the ball bounce forward out of his hands and straight into those of Fanolua  who caught it and rounding Amesbury found his own full-back in support to take the pass and score under the posts.  Brad Davis converted and Gloucester led 3 – 7.

Encouraged by their score the visitors began to try to run the ball with rather more freedom than earlier, while Quins were struggling so to do.  Then a fine break by Amesbury and Henry Barratt  with Mel Deane in support took play deep into Gloucester territory but the final pass to the left wing was poor and the knock on ended the attack.

Quins tried hard to increase the pressure and although they kept Gloucester in their own half for the remainder of the half their attacks, including an excellent run by Amesbury who was stopped just short of the line, failed to score.  Then as half-time approached Henry Barratt broke through the Gloucester defence and ran round to touch down under the posts.  Ian Vass kicked the conversion and at half-time Quins led by 10 – 7

 
Henry Barratt jogs back after scoring ©Prof

The third quarter of the match was largely uneventful.  Unforced errors and good defence by both sides saw neither side able to score.  The Quins’ backs were the more inventive but over-elaborate passing led to errors.   Another fine run by Amesbury was stopped although it had the effect of pushing Gloucester back into their twenty-two.  Another good run by the backs saw the ball lost in touch from the final pass.  Rather conservative kicks from Gloucester by way of clearance allowed Quins to maintain the pressure.

The forwards, too, were not allowing their opponents to overpower them and a scrum close to the Gloucester line saw them begin to roll their opponents backwards until a deliberate offside saw Quins awarded a penalty try which Vass converted so that Quins led 17 – 7 with fifteen minutes remaining.

 
Terry Fanuloa doesn't seem to be making much use of his arms in this tackle ©Prof

Gloucester came into the Quins’ half of the pitch from the restart for almost the first time in the half, but they were pushed back.  Their fast men, Fanolua and Garvey were well marked and tackled allowing them little momentum or space. A series of shortened line-outs by Quins deep in Gloucester territory failed to produce another score when an overthrown ball allowed Gloucester to break out. 

Another Gloucester attack was staunchly resisted with a dangerous run from Fanolua being stopped.  Then a yellow card for Alex Rogers, on as a substitute, altered the balance. The resistance was overrun and another Gloucester try by Kye Palm closed the gap to 17 – 14.  But it was too late for the visitors as the final whistle followed shortly to leave Quins the winners.

So the league campaign came to a successful end and Leicester is the final step to what may be a remarkable and unique treble.

NEC Harlequins
15. Charlie Amesbury, 14. Kiba Richards, 13. Henry Barratt, 12. Mel Deane, 11. Adam Thompstone, 10. Ian Vass, 9. Steve Wallace, 1. Aston Croall, 2. Agustín Costa Repetto, 3. Mike Ross, 4. James inglis, 5. George Robson, 6. Pablo Bouza, 7. Darren Clayton, 8. Tony Diprose (c).
Replacements: 16. Alex Rogers, 17. Hugh Innes, 18. Kevin Burke, 19. Jim Donovan, 20. Will Maddocks, 21. Mike Brown, 22. ?

Scorers: Tries: Henry Barratt, penalty. Conversions: Ian Vass (2). Penalty: Ian Vass

Gloucester
15. Pete Swatkins, 14. Karl Palm, 13. Rudi Kyle, 12. Terry Fanolua, 11. Marcel Garvey, 10. Brad Davis, 9. Pat O'Grady, 1. Nick Wood, 2. James Parkes, 3. Terry Sigley, 4. Dan Toohey, 5. Mark Cornwell, 6. Dean Miller, 7. James Merriman, 8. Adam Balding.
Replacements: 16. Pat Benson. 17. Emyr Lewis, 18. Chris Jones, 19. Will Matthews, 20. Richard Briggs, 21. Adam Croach, 22. Vince ?

Scorers: Tries: Pete Swatkins, Kye Palm. Conversions: Brad Davis (2)

Referee: Sean Davey
Touch Judges: Ed Turnhil, Kevin Stewart