Preseason friendlies

First topic message reminder :

Just seen Quins are playing Castres tonight:

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6378.php

And it's a team I'm interested in seeing what it can do, with Botica and Hopper in the centres, Chisholm at FB and Matthews and Wallace (at 6!) in the pack.

What other friendlies are going on? What combos would you like to see? And feel free to post the results

Clermont 49 - Ospreys 25

Playing with the new very dodgy looking blue & yellow away kit!


Wasps fall short in Treviso

Benetton Treviso 32 - 15 London Wasps

Wasps began their pre-season programme with a defeat against an impressive Treviso side. After a keenly-contested first half, in which Wasps played most of the rugby, the home side took complete control in the second half.

After a sweltering afternoon in Treviso, the temperature had fallen to a bearable level by the time of kick-off, with the help of a gentle, cooling breeze.
Wasps got off to an excellent start, with a try after just two minutes. Sam Jones won a lineout on the home 22, the ball was moved out to the backs, where Lee Thomas immediately showed his power, by forcing his way over the gain line. Wasps recycled quickly, and a series of powerful surges, by Thomas, Simon McIntyre and Billy Vunipola took play towards the home line. With the referee playing advantage, it was Vunipola who powered his way over near the right corner, and Stephen Jones added the extra points, with a fine conversion.
Four minutes later, the home side pulled back three points, when fly half Alberto Di Bernardo landed a straightforward penalty, following a scrum on the Wasps 22.
Two minutes later, Di Bernardo had a chance to narrow the gap to one point, when Wasps were penalised after a fine run by fullback Brendan Williams, but his 35-metre kick went wide. Almost immediately, winger Christian Loamanu burst through a tackle to make 20 metres. A try seemed certain, as he fed the supporting Paul Derbyshire, but the return pass was knocked on, just short of the line.
A free-kick from the resultant scrum gave Wasps the chance to ease the pressure, and they then produced two attacks of their own. The first came when Lee Thomas gathered a kick ahead, and made good ground across the field, to feed Tom Varndell, out wide on the left. With defenders closing in he tried to chip over them, but the kick was safely gathered. In the second, Vunipola charged several metres, before a deft offload found Sam Jones, who took play up to the 22, before the movement broke down.
Wasps kept up the pressure, and, on nineteen minutes, they won a penalty outside the Treviso 22, and Stephen Jones made no mistake, from a few metres to the right of the posts.
Wasps came close to a second score, when defensive pressure from Lee Thomas forced a Treviso error, just outside the Wasps 22. The ball was quickly fed to Varndell, who came within a whisker of going into touch, as he slipped through a tackle, before racing downfield. He seemed odds on to score, before a superb covering tackle by Williams stopped him, five metres short of the line.
The home side were soon applying pressure at the other end of the field, and it took some excellent defence to keep them out, before a precious turnover gave Wasps the chance to clear downfield. They again came close to a second try, when Stephen Jones hoisted a kick towards the left corner. Varndell leapt up to deflect the ball towards Lee Thomas, but the defence just managed to keep him out.
Wasps then turned down a series of kickable penalties, but the home defence forced them back, before winning a turnover which gave the dangerous Brendan Williams a chance to launch a counterattack, which eventually took play right up to the Wasps line. They were awarded a penalty, but opted to take a scrum. A series of powerful thrusts created the chance for Di Bernardo to go over between the posts, on the stroke of halftime. He landed the simple conversion to make it 10-10 at the break.
Wasps posed the first threats of the second half, and twice turned down kicks at goal, to set up attacking positions, deep in the Treviso 22, but they were unable to find their way through. One chip by Nick Robinson, who had replaced Stephen Jones, put the defence under pressure, but an audacious counter-attack, from behind their line, took the home side up towards the 22. A minute later, centre Alberto Sgarbi rounded the defence, to run in a try near the right corner. Di Bernardo’s excellent kick made the score 17-10, with 51 minutes played.
The lead was stretched to 10 points, after a Wasps handling error, from a lineout on their 22, gave Treviso a scrum. They moved the ball quickly, and Wasps were penalised, in front of their posts, giving Di Bernardo the simplest of kicks.
The flyhalf was then replaced by Luke McLean, who immediately had the chance to go for goal, from 40 metres. The kick went just wide, but a Wasps knock on gave Treviso a scrum under the posts. They moved the ball out to the left, and the forwards forced their way over the line, but excellent defence prevented them from grounding the ball.
It was now all Treviso, and the constant pressure finally told, when McLean sent a neat kick behind the defence, for replacement Giulio Toniolatti to follow up and touch down, just before the ball went dead. McLean’s conversion was well off target, the commanding 25-10 lead was a fair reflection of how the second half had gone.
The home side were playing with enormous confidence, and it was no surprise when they added a fourth try – replacement James Ambrosini going over in the corner, after some fine interpassing between forwards and backs.
Christian Wade gave the handful of travelling supporters something to cheer about, after a long pass found him, on his 22. He accelerated around his opposite number, before kicking ahead, as he crossed the halfway line, but the defence managed to get back and gather the ball.
It was Wasps who scored the next try, after winning a lineout near the left corner. They were being driven backwards, when Zak Taulafo suddenly emerged with the ball, to charge ten metres for a score, which Nick Robinson was unable to convert.
Wasps spent the closing minutes camped on their line, and the final play of the game almost brought a fifth Treviso try, as Toniolatti narrowly failed to gather another fine crossfield kick by McLean, just short of the line.

Wasps play their second and final pre-season game next Friday evening, when they travel to Headingley to face Leeds Carnegie.
Wasps team
15 Tommy Bell 14 Tom Varndell 13 Chris Mayor 12 Lee Thomas 11 Jack Wallace 10 Stephen Jones 9 Nic Berry 1 Tim Payne 2 T Rhys Thomas 3 Simon McIntyre 4 James Cannon 5 Marco Wentzel (c) 6 Sam Jones 7 Matt Everard 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16 Tom Lindsay 17 Zak Taulafo 18 Lewis Thiede 20 Will Robinson 21 Charlie Davies 22 Nick Robinson 23 Christian Wade 24 Tom Palmer 25 Ashley Johnson 26 Andrea Masi 27 Joe Simpson
Treviso
15 Brendan Williams 14 Christian Loamanu 13 Gideon La Grange 12 Alberto Sgarbi 11 Tommaso Iannone 10 Alberto Di Bernardo 9 Fabio Semenzato 1 Alberto De Marchi 2 Franco Sbaraglini 3 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet 4 Francesco Minto 5 Valerio Bernabo (c) 6 Simone Favaro 7 Paul Derbyshire 8 Marco Filippucci
Replacments
16 Enrico Ceccato 17 Matteo Muccignat 18 Lorenzo Cittadini 20 Dean Budd 21 Alessandro Zanni 22 Ludovico Nitoglia 23 Edoardo Gori 25 Luke McLean 26 Giovanni Maistri 27 James Ambrosini 28 Giulio Toniolatti

Anyone at the Baarf v Welsh game ?

Leinster 14 Glaws 10 HT
Apparently Glaws are getting murdered at the breakdown, nothing new there then!

Leinster 33 Glaws 22 FT

I was at the game cherry. Glaws' defence was terrible but they were dangerous in attack. It was slow first half but the game picked in the second. Some lovely tries scored from both teams.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I was at the game cherry. Glaws' defence was terrible but they were dangerous in attack. It was slow first half but the game picked in the second. Some lovely tries scored from both teams.

Cheers

Sounds like the norm for Glaws, but at such an early stage not concerned. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Sounds like a good game. Did anyone go & if so how did Karl Eastman get on? I see he scored the first try for Bath.

Match report: Bath Rugby 40-31 London Welsh


MATCH:    Bath Rugby 40 v 31 London Welsh
                 Friendly
DATE:       Saturday 11th August, 2012
VENUE:     Recreation Ground

London Welsh ran in four tries at The Rec but it wasn’t enough to give the Exiles victory in their opening pre-season friendly of the season.

Welsh took to the pitch for the first time ever as an Aviva Premiership club and while underlying in his post-match reflections that there is much work to do before the visit of Leicester Tigers to the Kassam Stadium on September 2, head coach Lyn Jones was also left with plenty of positives.

On another day Welsh’s four-try haul might have been enough to see them snatch a victory, and the Exiles did lead 10-9 after 33 minutes thanks to Dan George’s converted try, only for the home side to blitz the visitors either side of half time.

Tries from Kyle Eastmond and Michael Claassens saw Bath turn that one-point deficit into a 21-10 lead, and when David Wilson and Will Tanner crossed early in the second half Bath were in control.

But in a game punctuated by substitutions, the Exiles finished the stronger. Carl Fearns may have cancelled out Jonah Holmes’ try for Welsh, but Paulica Ion and Ashley Smith ensured a more than a respectable look to the final scroreline.

Tom Arscott’s withdrawal from the original line up ensured Welsh took the field with just one of the club’s summer signings on initial parade, Nick Runciman.

Tom Heathcote’s penalty was cancelled out by the boot of Ross, whose ninth minute strike registered London Welsh’s first points as a Premiership club.

Heathcote restored the home side’s lead, albeit with the assistance of the post, after Welsh were penalised at a scrum. The first half was descending into a cat and mouse kicking duel.

Jack Cuthbert’s grubber teased the hard chasing Eastmond but with play brought back for a Welsh infringement Heathcote increased the lead.

However, seven minutes before the break Welsh stunned the home side when Bath’s lineout malfunctioned and Runciman didn’t need a second invitation to counter.

Welsh worked the ball through the hands of James Lewis and Joe Ajuwa, with former Bath prop Billy Moss getting also taking it on. Bath infringed but rather than take the three, Ross pushed the ball into the corner and Exiles got their reward when George broke off the maul to dive over. Ross converted.

That try, though, only served to sting the home side into life and a lovely offload from Ollie Devoto sent Eastmond bursting through to score. A minute later Eastmond looked in again, but for a try saving tackle from Nick Scott. Michael Claassens, though, went over from close range.

Bath began the second half as they’d finished the first. The pressure told when Wilson took a flat pass and there was no stopping him from just a few metres out. Devoto added his second conversion and the Exiles now trailed 28-10.

That scoreline made even worse viewing for those London Welsh supporters among the crowd when Devoto prodded a penalty into the corner and his pack did the rest, with Will Tanner the last to emerge to take the plaudits. Devoto’s conversion left Welsh 23 points adrift.

But Welsh would reply with arguably the try of the game, a superb length of the field effort. Seb Jewell’s miss pass released Phil MacKenzie and although the Canadian international was collared, Welsh kept the ball alive and Jonah Holmes finished off the move by the posts. Gavin Henson converted for his first points in Welsh colours.

As if angered by Welsh’s impertinence, Bath’s riposte would be swift. Devoto put another penalty in the corner and Fearns burst clean through several tackles at pace to score.

Devoto’s conversion took Bath’s tally to 40 points, but although 24 minutes still remained it was Welsh that monopolised the scoring. Two Henson penalties allowed the Exiles to work their way up field and although Alfie Toa’ala was adjudged short, Welsh were not to be denied and Paulica Ion forced his way over against his former club.
 
Henson bisected the uprights for the extra two points and then produced a fine touchline conversion to close out the scoring, after Matt Keyte’s quickly taken penalty resulted in Ashley Smith crossing in the corner.

Bath Rugby:
Tries: Eastmond, Wilson, Claassens, Fearns; Cons: Devoto (3); Pens: Heathcote (3).

London Welsh:
Tries: George, Holmes, Ion, Smith; Cons: Ross, Henson (3); Pens: Ross.

Bath Rugby: Jack Cuthbert, JJ Kilmartin, Dan Hipkiss, Matt Banahan, Kyle Eastmond, Tom Heathcote, Chris Cook, Charlie Beech, Ross Batty, Anthony Perenise, Dom Day, Stuart Hooper (c), Joe Buckle, Guy Mercer, Ben Skirving.

Replacements: Will Tanner, Nathan Catt, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, Ryan Caldwell, Carl Fearns, Tom Baldwin, Will Skuse, Mark McMillan, Ollie Devoto, Ben Mosses, Tom Biggs, Nick Abendanon, Lee Mears, Kane Palma-Newport, Will Spencer, Michael Claassens.

London Welsh: Tom Arscott, Nick Scott, James Lewis, Hudson Tonga’uiha, Joe Ajuwa, Gordon Ross, Nick Runciman, Billy Moss, Dan George, Greg Bateman, Jon Mills ©, Matt Corker, Lee Beach, Mike Denbee, Ed Jackson.
 
Replacements: Phil McKenzie, Sonny Parker, Seb Jewell, Ashley Smith, Simon Whatling, Gavin Henson, Jonah Holmes, Matthew Keyte, Tom Bristow, Neil Briggs, Paulica Ion, Adam Brown, Daniel Browne, Gareth Evans, Kirill Kuleman.

Half-time: 21-10
Referee: Greg Garner; Assistant referees: Paul Burton & Ashley Rowden
Attendance: 4,493

Isn't this game massively early for Hawkins?! The injury only occurred back in April and at the time reports were that he was struggling to move it at all, then there were questions raised as to if he'd ever play again. I worry he's been rushed back a bit here as i'm sure estimates said about 8 months recovery?

Nah Yappy they said that the standard recovery of 12 weeks would apply which is why Clark's lawyer asked for only a 3 month ban. There were concerns that there would be complications due to the nature of the break. He only played the first half but it's good to know there's no long term damage.

Good result for Tigers with Jordan Crane grabbing two tries on his return from injury, we really have missed him.

The write up:

Leicester Tigers opened the pre-season programme with a 34-21 victory over Championship newcomers Jersey in the Channel Islands on Saturday afternoon.

Jersey welcomed a bumper crowd of around 4,000 - including a large number of travelling Tigers supporters - for their first game since winning promotion from the National League in May.
Tigers ran in four first-half tries in the opening leg of their pre-season programme, and added another two in the second half, while the hosts scored three tries and got within eight points midway through the second half.

Martin Castrogiovanni captained Tigers for the first time - after leading Italy to two Test wins during the summer - in the Ashburton-sponsored match.

The Tigers starting line-up included Vereniki Goneva, Rob Andrew, Brett Deacon and Richard Thorpe, while there was a return from injury for Jordan Crane, Rob Hawkins and Niall Morris, and an outing for young lock Joe Cain and prop Fraser Balmain.

Among the replacements bench used fully by Richard Cockerill on a warm afternoon was Kieran Brookes on his return from an 11-month injury absence, while Pat Phibbs, Matt Cornwell and Adam Thompstone made their first appearances since their summer moves to Welford Road.

The game was just five minutes old when Crane crowned his comeback with the opening try, taking control at a catch-and-drive after George Ford had chipped the opening penalty into touch.

And the No8 added a second before half-time, cutting a line under the posts after a quick Tigers attack on the left.

In between the two tries for the Tigers back-rower, scrum-half Micky Young had darted through from a ruck on the left to score and Jersey claimed a try when Young knocked back opposite number Nick Griffiths under the posts but the home side's forwards managed to regain control and score from close range, with Broadfoot adding the extras.

The first half came to a close with a try from Scott Hamilton, latching on to an attack from Goneva to score on the right. Matt Cornwell, who replaced Ford shortly before half-time, dragged the conversion wide as Tigers 24-7 at the break.

Chuter, Jonny Harris, Wells and Thompstone joined the action for the start of the second half, and shortly after the restart Phibbs replaced Young for his first appearance in a Tigers shirt.
Jersey enjoyed a good spell of pressure close to the Tigers line but the visitors cleared their lines after a dominant scrum just five metres out.

Phibbs marked his first appearance with a try on 52 minutes after capitalising on loose ball following a tackle by Matt Smith on the Jersey 22. Scrum-half Phibbs picked up and beat the last defender to stretch the lead to 29-7.

A 50-metre break involving Morris, Smith and Andy Symons had the travelling support in good voice just moments later, but the Jersey defence was able to cover 20 metres from their own line.

Alex Lewington, Brookes, Julian Salvi and Ryan Bower got their first taste of the action in the third quarter,

Jersey grabbed their second try of the afternoon with just over 10 minutes remaining, scoring from a close-range lineout. The conversion cut the gap to 14-29.

The hosts then almost grabbed a third with a break which was only stopped five metres out and, from the ruck, the referee showed a yellow card to Salvi. One man short, Tigers then had to defend the five-metre scrum and, when the pack went down ,the referee awarded a penalty try and the gap was down to eight points.

Cornwell then had a kick charged down just metres from his own line, though thankfully the ball bounced beyond the deadball line.

Tigers had the last word, though, as a clinical break ended with Thompstone racing into the left-hand corner for the last points of the game.

Here are some highlights from Saints defeat to Italian new-boys Zebre;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cvpbmcZfns&feature=youtu.be

Saints seem to have made 15 subs at half-time and treated it as a fitness session. Nevertheless, I hope Zebre can take some confidence from the result!

We walked our friendlies....was a great day. If we play like that we'll be back at the first attempt...and i think we'll have a few boys threatening England places.

How was York?

Leinster vs Gloucester highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcf-G9cMNb0&feature=youtu.be

York was good CJ...

Witnessed the new Crouch, Touch, Set calls for the first time on Saturday. (Well done Connacht by the way). Was a much quicker and cleaner engage, anyone else notice a difference?

I was at Sunbury for London Irish's friendly with Nottingham on Friday night and could write an essay on my thoughts from the game, but I'll keep it brief.

Defensively in terms of tackling and winning collisions at the gainline we did well, but we did not dominate the scrum or lineout as I would like to see us do against a Championship side. The breakdown was really interesting as when we carried in we seemed to protect the ball well and get it out reasonably quickly, but on their ball we didn't really look like we were going to turn the ball over much.

Our backs looked as if they had some real spark, and TOL and Geraghty looked as if they have clicked pretty well at half back.

Our scrum worries me and we need a nasty tighthead. If we get one, then I think we could do reasonably well this season. If we get front foot ball, from what I saw of our backs we definitely have it there to carve teams up, but it's the same old issue for us of can we get front foot ball. Put simply, our pack will have to go up a few percent from Friday night for us to have it.

One to watch this season: Alex Gray. Has bulked up and looks comfortable with the extra weight and has lost none of his pace or mobility.

Yes Gray looked quality in the sevens to.

You're playing our lot on Saturday, Ozzy. I doubt you'll have to worry so much about your scrum then.

Ozzy, how did the young Nottingham 10, Rory Lynn, go? He was Ford's understudy in the Tigers academy and it seems Tigers have done a Twelvetrees and released him to a Championship club for a season so he can get some experience. Be interested to know whether he is likely to be brought back, he always seemed to have a good boot at academy level.

He didn't really stand out to be honest Sam, but it was difficult for the sides to build any real momentum in attack as the game was played in four 15 minute quarters.

Luckless, you've not seen our scrum. At present we have 3 senior hookers plus Brian Blaney on a short term contract as two of the hookers are unavailable (1 injured, 1 suspended). The fit one is Scott Lawson who is only marginally better in the scrum than Lee Mears.

We have 5 senior props on the books, Corbisiero and Cai Griffiths are injured leaving Max Lahiff, who although a monster int he loose has porr technique in the scrum at present, Halavatau who only converted to prop 3 years ago, and Aulika.

I am worried. There is rumour on The Craic of a new SH prop joining soon, but I think we still need another one as well.

Hmm, you really are having a few problems then! I'm looking forward to the match, I've never seen Irish live before.

Fair enough Ozzy. Seems a bit odd you are after a new prop less than a week after you sent Ion out on loan.

Ion was poor for us last season. He does little in the loose and Smith seems to prefer mobile props, so it's not a massive surprise to me.

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6392.php

With this team-arlequins team to face London Scottish
15. Ollie Lindsay-Hague
14.Seb Stegmann
13. Charlie Walker
12. Ben Botica
11. Miles Mantella
10. Rory Clegg
9. Henry Taylor

1. Nic Mayhew
2. Rob Buchanan
3. Will Collier
4. Sam Twomey
5. Pete Browne
6. Joe Trayfoot
7. Will Skinner
8. Tom Guest

"Tries from Seb Stegmann, Henry Taylor, Jordan Burns, Charlie Matthews and a brace from Darryl Marfo, complemented by a perfect kicking display Rory Clegg and Ben Botica gave Quins their first win of the new season.

In a very expansive game, dictated by the sevens conditions, Harlequins showed promising signs and were rewarded for their earlier efforts with a try from Stegmann on three minutes.

With an attacking scrum five metres from Scottish's line the ball fired out to Clegg. The fly-half shipped the ball to the right and Stegmann darted in to score. Clegg converted, giving Quins a 7-0.

Moments later, Clegg slotted his second conversion, following a try for Marfo. From the earlier restart, Harlequins won a penalty and Clegg kicked to touch. A surging driving maul from the lineout was too powerful for the visitors and Harlequins bundled over. With nine minutes played, Quins lead 14-0.

On 13 minutes, Willie Lipp put the visitors on the scoreboard. From a Scottish lineout five metres out they worked the phases close to the line. Lipp took an inside pass from Ross Samson to score. With Phil Godman's conversion the deficit was reduced to 14-7.

New academy scrum-half Henry Taylor showed Harlequins fans a taste of things to come with two storming runs in the Scottish half. Although the first one resulted in a Quins knock on, his second gave Quins their third try.

A great turnover from Joe Trayfoot in midfield allowed Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Seb Stegmann to charge down the line. Taylor picked from the back of the ruck, just outside the 22 and pranced around the defence to score. Clegg whose kicking had been on form slotted his third of the afternoon.

A third run from Taylor set up Marfo's second. The powerful prop surged over after a number of phases close to the Scottish line. Clegg's conversion eased over the posts for a 28-7 lead.

Scottish gained some momentum towards the end of the half, but failed to cross over and Quins took a 28-7 lead.

The second half began slowly with neither side settling with possession. When Harlequins won a penalty in their own half, replacement scrum-half Jordan Burns lit up the Stoop with a storming run into the Scottish half. Despite two great offloads Stegmann fumbled the ball to break the attack down.

57 minutes and London Scottish got their second try on the board thanks to replacement Chevvy Pennycook. With Quins down to 14 due to an injury to Clegg, it took the visitors a number of phases to break the line. As they built pressure, the numerical advantage told and the visitors scored. With the conversion from Godman Quins lead 28-14.

Scottish continued to pressurise following their score. Good defensive work from Trayfoot and Skinner forced errors in attack.

Scottish put their third try on the board from scrum half Jamie Stephenson. With an attacking scrum five metres from the Quins line, the visitors won a penalty and from the short distance, the scrum-half scored. With the conversion before the water break, Scottish reduced the deficit to 28-21.

Harlequins responded immediately with a two tries in quick succession try from Acadmy new boy, Jordan Burns and Charlie Matthews.

The first came as a result of a break in the midfield from Botica. The Kiwi, who moved to fly-half, offloaded to the young scrum-half to score in the far corner.

Quins received the restart and charged up field to score a stunning try. The early break from Matthews brought play right into the Scottish half. The ball passed through numerous hands and Matthews completed the move he began by scoring. Botica converted twice and Quins lead 42-21.

With less than five minutes left to play Harlequins held on for the win."

Seems that Botica and Clegg combined well at 10-12, and the youngsters got a good run out! Hopefully see some more from the likes of OLH this season.

Next up Harlequins team to face Connacht
15. Ross Chisholm
14. Tom Williams
13. George Lowe
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Sam Smith
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Luke Wallace
8. Nick Easter

Notably missing the still injured Brown and Robshaw and Monye and thus a good indicator of what a lot of this season may be like

After victory against London Scottish, Harlequins faced Heineken Cup Pool rivals Connacht in the second of the day's friendlies and came away with a deserved 45-11 win.

With the conditions continuing to dictate open and expansive play, the Harlequins fans were treated to a seven try show.

It was a very dramatic opening half which saw three yellow cards, one each for Connacht's Miah Nikora and Quins' Luke Wallace and Nick Evans. But a total of four tries from Evans, Nick Easter George Lowe and Ross Chisholm.

With a 26-6 lead at the break further tries from Sam Smith, Danny Care and a second for Chisholm sealed the victory.

Harlequins started strongly and showed their intent early on with two try scoring opportunities.

Both Jordan Turner-Hall and James Johnston crossed the whitewash only to be denied by being held up and a knock on. Harlequins kept the pressure on and when they were awarded a five metre scrum, the front eight showed strong signs of things to come.

With a surging scrum, the ball was shipped from Care to Evans who cut through the defence to score. The fly-half converted his own score to take a 7-0 lead.
Tom Williams began a promising attack for Quins on 11 minutes and as numerous offloads brought play onto the Connacht 10 metre line, the visitors conceded a penalty to break the attack down. Evans kicked to touch and Quins attacked from a seven metre lineout.

Showing their physical prowess the forwards drove towards the line, when Care picked from the back he ran toward the line. As the scrum half dived over to score, the ball was knocked out of his hands. This allowed Connacht to clear pressure from a resulting five metre scrum.

Connacht were dealt a blow when fly-half Miah Nikora was sin binned for repeated infringements on 17 minutes. A huge kick from Evans gave Quins a five metre lineout and again the dominant forwards drove toward the line. When Nick Easter broke off the back of the maul he bundled over to score and with Evans' extras Quins lead 14-0 on 20 minutes.

Following the water break, Harlequins were reduced to 14 as Wallace tackled Fetu'u Vainikolo late from the winger's clearance.

When Harlequins infringed at the break down on 27 minutes Connacht got their first points on the board through Matthew Jarvis' boot.

Connacht gained momentum in the latter stages of the first half, but yet another strong maul from the forwards, followed by a monstrous clearance from Evans averted the danger.

Moments after Wallace returned to the field Harlequins were back to 14 following the sin-binning of Evans. This deficit seemed to have no impact as following a second penalty kick from Connacht, Harlequins responded with two tries in quick succession to end the first half.

The first came from George Lowe. The centre raced from halfway to score Quins' third try after receiving a beautiful offload from Turner-Hall. The second came as result of a magnificent break from Wallace. The ball passed through numerous hands and found Ross Chisholm to score. With Evans in the sin bin, Care stepped up to take both conversions. After missing the first, he slotted the second, giving Quins a 26-6 lead at half time.
Harlequins took the early advantage in the second half following the Connacht restart not going 10 metres. The Londoners kept the ball through the forwards and when they shipped down the blindside to Turner-Hall, the centre charged down the left wing. With the mis match in defence the English international passed inside to Smith who scored with just three minutes played. Still with Evans off the field Care was unable to convert as Quins lead 31-6.

Connacht responded with a score of their own through centre Robbie Henshaw. As the ball was kicked into the Quins 22, Easter lazily took a clearance kick. It was charged down and Connacht scored. The conversion was missed and Quins returned to 15 men on 49 minutes.

Harlequins again responded immediately through a try from Care. When Quins worked right up to the Connacht line, the scrum-half fooled the defence to cross over. Evans returned the normal kicking duties and extended the lead to 38-11.

As the mid-way point of the half drew passed, Nick Evans put in a lovely grubber kick through the Connacht defence. Full-back Chisholm picked up the ball to touch down over the line. Evans extras increased the lead to 45-11 on 64 minutes.

Harlequins enjoyed the late pressure and looked likely to end on a high note with a try for Wallace. The flanker was denied due to an earlier forward pass and the full time whistle blew.

From the Quins website

Glaws 20 - 8 Cardiff Blues.

Billy Twelvetrees got 15 of them!

Kicks or tries HK?

yappysnap wrote:Kicks or tries HK?

Think you've got the wrong shedhead!

1 converted try, 2 pens and conversion of a penalty try.

CJ - how did Miles Mantella go for Quins. He was at Rosslyn Park last season in National 1, so I assume he's now dual registered at Quins.

Quality finisher, that lad.

It's interesting- though the original teamsheet said Mantella was playing, I think Marfo was instead. Mantella is dual registered with London Scottish this season, so he may have played for them instead. I'm just happy that the academy squad is large and playing well, even if at a lower level, as we will need some of those players!

ChequeredJersey wrote:It's interesting- though the original teamsheet said Mantella was playing, I think Marfo was instead. Mantella is dual registered with London Scottish this season, so he may have played for them instead. I'm just happy that the academy squad is large and playing well, even if at a lower level, as we will need some of those players!

I got that the wrong way round. Mantella was dual registered with Park last season, being part of the Quins' Academy. So he's now going to get game time with Scottish, who are in the Championship. He's been around the England 7s squad too.

Did he feature in the JP Morgan AM 7s this summer? Sorry, didn't pay much attention to that competition.

Yeah he got some gametime in the sevens although we didn't make it that far in that competition!