Quins Stumble on Abu Dhabi day: Harlequins  16-23

The final Guinness premiership home game for Harlequins  brought a bit of an anti climax, as for the second time in two Guinness Premiership games, they could only extract a bonus point from their opponents. It was a tight contest which with both sides being error prone and at times playing nervously. It was in one period, the second quarter of the match, that this match was lost.

It started well enough, Quins kicked off and the ever dynamic Ugo Monye claimed the restart, from which Quins pinned Sale back in their own 22 and enjoyed a good period of pressure. A neat Ugo Monye kick, followed by a fluffed lineout from Sale allowed Quins backs to fling the ball out to Mike Brown, who neatly drew in his man and passed to release Tom Williams who ran in for a well taken try after 5 mins. Adrian Jarvis, playing his last ever home game at the stoop, missed the conversion. Quins 5-0 Sale.

After this, Sale pressured from the restart, forcing a 5 metre lineout. However Quins stole it yet again, and thanks to a penalty (not the last to be given today) from Dave Pearson against Sale for Offside, Quins took play up to the half way line, where they won another penalty for sale going off their feet at a ruck. Jarvis Obliged, 8-0 Quins. Another penalty, this time from 45 metres gave Quins an 11-0 lead at the end of the first Quarter.

Sale hit straight back again, and following a few good phases in Quins territory, Luke McAlister fed Chris Jones who waltzed through a large hole in the Quins defence. Brought down just short of the line, Jones offloaded to Wigglesworth who will never get an easier try. Hodgson converted, 11-7.

From here on in, Quins’ discipline and any sort of dynamism they had seemed to vanish. This was not helped by what looked like a serious injury to Tani Fuga, to whom I wish a speedy recovery. He was replaced by Chris Brooker. Quins’ discipline worsened and were caught offside on several occasions.  Hodgson punished this by adding a further penalty on the half hour. 11-10.

Quins’ dynamism in the ruck area also seemed to have disappeared, and one of many turnovers inside Quins’ half lead to a try for Sale’s Andy Vilk who evaded Tom Williams’ cover tackle to touch down close to the posts. The impressive Hodgson converted and Sale lead 11-17. Before the break, Quins were pinged for offside again and Hodgson slotted the easy penalty. Half time Quins 11-20 Sale Sharks, The second quarter of the game proving fatal.

Quins made a single change at half time, Ugo Monye had taken a knock about 20 mins into the first half and went off, with De Wet Barry his replacement. After the break, more of the same. Quins were dominated at ruck and at scrum time, which swung in Sale’s favour after the injury to Tani Fuga. Quins were penalised for standing up in the scrum after 50 mins and Hodgson made no mistake. Sale now had a comfortable two score lead and one foot in the playoffs. 11-23.

Quins tried to make inroads and had the better of the second half from then on. Attacks however were halted by handling errors and poor decision making. On the Hour, Quins introduced Nick Easter and Jim Evans, the former giving Quins a much needed ball carrier. Shortly afterwards, after a couple of hearty Nick Easter drives and flashes of brilliance from David Strettle, Quins got their opportunity as Andy Sheridan was binned for punching George Robson. Quins knocked on on the line, but gained another penalty and from the resulting lineout came a second binning as Sale were finally caught taking down a maul, having collapsed just about everything vaguely maul shaped until then. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe the recipient. From the resulting lineout, Quins huffed and puffed against a resilient Sharks defence which was impressive throughout. Finally the Lively figure of Danny Care busted a tackle to squeeze into the corner. Jarvis missed the conversion but Quins were in losing bonus point territory. 16-23

Following this Quins tried hard but couldn’t find a way past a resilient Sale side. There were windows of opportunity to be exploited but these weren’t quite executed well enough. An example being Mike Brown ignoring a 6 vs 2 overlap in favour of a cross kick, which he then put straight out into touch. Then in the dying seconds, a lineout on the Sale 22 wasn’t taken cleanly which allowed sale to clean up, and take the win which they thoroughly deserved.

I left disappointed. No team has the right to look that comfortable to win at the stoop, and although our players visibly gave it their all today, we were found wanting in areas we’ve been so good in recently such as the scrum and in rucks. A bonus point wasn’t satisfying but just about deserved. If we are to challenge next year, Sale at home is a game we really have to win.

Dean Richards said the following at the post match press conference;
"I looked at the Sale team before the match and felt that on paper it didn't look a bad side. They had a lot more experience than us and I hoped that wouldn't prove crucial, but in the end it was the difference between us. Our average age is 23 and a half so this team has a brilliant future. Our pack stood up to them very well."

I agree with him too an extent, but today our pack looked tired and lacking in power compared to their opposite numbers. Our front row is the most used combination in the premiership and suffered at scrum time today. Maybe a rest is due?

My Quins MOTM would probably be George Robson, for his excellent work in the lineout. Honourable mentions to England internationals Dave Strettle who looked something like his jinking best at times and Nick Easter who carried well as an impact sub.

We’ve come a long way this year and it showed, on and off the pitch. Off the pitch today was brilliant and the atmosphere at the start and for the first 20 minutes or so was second to nothing I’ve experienced in the last two years at the stoop. The club deserves a huge amount of praise for the effort it put into the matchday. Closing the bars seemed to work as the stands seemed full when the side ran out. On the pitch, well did we honestly expect to end up in the top 6? I certainly didn’t and I hold my hand up and stand corrected. The players have been a credit and although it may be out of their hands now to an extent, a playoff spot is very much achievable with a win at Tigers next week.

Harlequins  (11) 16
Tries: Williams, Care Pens: Jarvis 2

Sale (20) 23
Tries: Wigglesworth, Vilk Cons: Hodgson 2 Pens: Hodgson 3

Harlequins : Brown; Strettle, Monye (Barry HT), Masson, Williams; Jarvis, Care; Jones, Fuga (Brooker 34), Ross, Percival (Evans 55), Robson, Robshaw (Easter 60), Skinner (capt), Guest.
Replacements (Unused): Brooks, So'oialo, Malone

Sale: Foden; Kuadey, Bell, McAlister, Vilk (Hills 72); Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Sheridan, Bruno(Briggs 54), Turner(Roberts 58), Jones(Schofield 74), Cockbain, White (capt), Fernandez Lobbe, Chabal (Cox 68).
Sin Binned: Sheridan (61-71) Fernandez Lobbe (65-75)
Replacements (Unused):  Cliff, Riley.