Newbury calling… (Newbury 25-57 Quins)

By The Coop
January 24 2006

Not a lot of people know this but 20 odd years ago Newbury was the host to the UK’s first ever mobile phone transmission. So, on behalf of all self respecting Quins fans everywhere, a big ‘thank you Newbury’. 20 years post event, 5 points would be equally as nice as well in a ‘must have’ kind of way

Unfortunately nothing is taken for granted these days, not least an away trip to a side with the distinction of going in at half time on home turf ‘uppers’ earlier in the season.

The big day dawned, heralded as it was by a pinky / salmon coloured sky. Red sky in morning, shepherds pie warning! And so it should have been. Shepherd pie that is. Mythological tales of £1.50 pints at fuelling stations on the way would have ordinarily been too good to miss. A last minute wild card ‘I fancy doing some shopping in Newbury with the baby’ by the other half, and a rather circular route care of left behind tickets meant the wholesome pies and bargain ale remained but fantasy. Replaced by Insalate Tricolore, a glass of Pinot, a Peroni, and Cow & Gate 12-18m special.

Life on the ND1 road. It’s a beautiful thing.

But I digress.

So without any further ado, the game.

Vos and Mehrtens Seem A Bit Confused By The Referee ©RobShew

The Newbury ‘Bowl’, as I will call it, is a great little ground. Flanked by steeped grass banking on three sides, and headed by a small marqueed temporary stand at one end, you could quite easily imagine a few ‘Last Night of the Proms’ evenings in the summer. Beer and seat in the ‘Marquee’ taken, early observations were of Evs taking the pre match practise, and Deano with his hands in his pockets. And what looked like a fully functioning digital scoreboard atop the hill at the far end. Recalling a ‘Not the Nine O’Clock News’ sketch of old, one away supporter was heard to ask “An automatic digital scoreboard. What on earth is that?” Mehrtens kept up the comedy value with his practise punts by felling a few eager skittle-like ball boys in front of the main terrace.

A Flying Charlie Amesbury ©Barquin Mad

Three o’ clock and kick off. Mehrtens again and an immediate knock on from Newbury Blues on their 22. A quick tap, and like the brush strokes of a master, the play went far left, far right, back again and ended with Fuga crossing for what can best be described as ‘a quick try’. Mehrtens’ conversion hit the post. Like missing out on the pies, not everything was going to go to plan.

The Blues came back immediately from the off, exerting some good sustained pressure in the Quins 22. To Newbury’s credit it was clear they were up for running the ball back at every opportunity, moves breaking down only from slow delivery, hasty execution therefrom, or as was their unfortunate case a Mehrtens interception in front of the posts, leading to his three quarters of the pitch run for Quins' second try and a successful conversion.

Mehrtens Outpaces The Newbury Defence ©RobShew

The against the run nature of the second try seemed to shake and galvanise the Quins. A midfield scrum and ensuing penalty, resulting in a kick to 5m touch, left only a solid catch and drive between Quins and another try. Fuga delivered his second, Mehrtens missed his second. 17-0 nevertheless. The digital scoreboard had no space for time, but with fifteen minutes gone, time seemed irrelevant.

Fuga is Bundled Over ©JimQuin

Some polite afters at the restart lead to a Quins penalty and play moving up to the Blues 22. A Quins knock on saw them scrambling back as Newbury forced the play. Again wanting to run the ball wide the Blues were let down by poor execution and static takes, until eventually a flip and go created enough space for a squeezed try, but missed conversion. At 17-5 the score was probably a reflection of play, but left a nagging doubt. The doubt was soon removed. A comedy shocker of a sliced clearance from Newbury (the ball, from about the five yard line and in front of their posts, somehow ending up behind their in-goal area) led to the referee, probably to save his own and Newbury’s embarrassment calling the play back for an earlier knock on. From a controlled push at the scrum, So’oailo picked up and ran, leading to Easter strolling over for the fourth try.

Easter Strolls Over ©Buzz

The Blues again tried to take the game back to Quins, running penalties when easy points could have been accumulated. One lead to Duffy having to be replaced by Deane, Duffy the victim of his own misadventure in trying to take a quick 22 drop out. The resulting action had Newbury well placed for a try but for Amesbury somehow getting himself sandwiched between an advancing player and the posts.

Easter In The Lineout ©RobShew

With time closing on the half, Quins managed to work the ball out and back to the Blues 22. Some poor passing and handling on both sides saw the balance of possession change rapidly until So’oailo took control and ran in from 15 metres. The conversion made it 31-5. Quick Newbury salvos saw first varied penalty attempts to gain a five pointer being repelled, followed by the safer three points being taken.

So'oialo Scores Between The Posts ©JimQuin

From the off Quins applied pressure and from a penalty forced another 5 metre catch and drive situation. The touch down was disallowed for a knock on and Newbury kicked for touch to end the half…except Keogh caught the ball wide on the half-way, ran the width of the pitch, traded quick passes and sprinted in for the sixth try (converted). 37-8 at the half time whistle.

Keogh Dives Over ©Barquin Mad

Returning from a scrum at the bar a couple of minutes into the second half, Mehrtens could be seen landing a conversion. Apparently some nifty hands from Greenwood sending Mike Brown over. Several good phases in the Newbury 22 then saw Mehrtens quickly change the direction of an attack and Keogh spin out of a tackle to go over for his second. Conversion missed. 50-8.

With the game effectively won it lost some impetus, but still saw action. Amongst some evenly traded yellow cards (with Miall of for Quins), tries were also shared. Newbury’s came from a run out wide and to the corner, and ye olde Quins favourite penalty to 5 and catch and drive saw Easter to go over and left the score at 57-13 going in to the last ten minutes.

The game had by this stage been free flowing enough not to have to question some bizarre refereeing decisions until with Quins pressing and all but over the line, the whistle was blown for standing up in the scrum, against Quins, on their own put in. With that, another yellow and substitutions from both sides, Quins seemed to pack up bags. Or moreso, Newbury started running on adrenaline, and with it a pace and lack of the hesitancy that had featured in some of their earlier moves. Some wide running and switching saw a converted try. Swiftly followed by another straight from a full-length kick off return.

A 57-25 final score might have reflected overall possession but probably didn’t reflect territory in the same fashion, Newbury’s running creating many good yards and a well-deserved bonus point. The Quins performance lacked an individual standout, being as it was a balanced team effort. A professionalism and better application to the way their tries were taken ensured the healthy margin. Statisticians might note however that over eighty minutes in two games this season, Newbury have held Quins to evens.

With a purple sky drawing over the day, like any other good day, unfortunately had to end. Good hosts and a few Flowers Originals topped it off.

Ah. Rugby on the ND1 road. It’s a beautiful thing.

NEC Harlequins
Ceri Jones (Mark Lambert ,55 mins), Tani Fuga (Jimmy Richards ,55 mins), Ricky Nebbett, Jim Evans, Simon Miall (Pablo Bouza ,77 mins), Christopher Robshaw, Andre Vos (Tom Guest ,65 mins), Nick Easter, Steve So’oialo (Adrian Jarvis ,80 mins), Andrew Mehrtens, Simon Keogh, Gavin Duffy (Mel Deane ,28 mins), Will Greenwood, Charlie Amesbury (Ugo Monye ,65 mins), Mike Brown.
Replacements: Jimmy Richards (Tani Fuga ,55 mins), Mark Lambert (Ceri Jones ,55 mins), Pablo Bouza (Simon Miall ,77 mins), Tom Guest (Andre Vos ,65 mins), Adrian Jarvis (Steve So’oialo ,80 mins), Mel Deane (Gavin Duffy ,28 mins), Ugo Monye (Charlie Amesbury ,65 mins)
Scorers:
Tries: Tani Fuga, Nick Easter, Steve So’oialo, Andrew Mehrtens, Simon Keogh (2), Mike Brown Conversions: Mehrtens (6)

Newbury Blues
Simon Carter, Rob Scothern, Aaron Jarvis, Chris Hart, Tom Radbourne, Matt Styles, Chris Cracknell, Isoa Damudamu, Dan Smaje, Tom Rogers, Kenny Bingham, Mark Ireland, Duncan Bell, Mike Baxter, Mal Roberts.
Replacements: Martin Nutt, Reuben Aiono, Raynn Bruce, Andrew Smith, Mark Simpson-Daniel, Glen Cooper, Conor Davis
Scorers:
Tries: Simon Carter, Chris Hart, Kenny Bingham, Duncan Bell Conversion: Mal Roberts Penalty: Tom Rogers