DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
ComeAllWithin (Harlequins Rugby)
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: ComeAllWithin Board
*****************************************************
#Post#: 23561--------------------------------------------------
Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: Admin
Date: May 8, 2019, 6:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Harlequins vs Leicester
Friday, 3 May 2019
By Bedfordshire Boy
Two games to go and there are there are still five teams within
five points all in with a chance for the one remaining position
for the play off stage. Having said that it is for Saints or
Quins to lose with them both sitting on 51 points, 3 points
ahead of Sale Sharks the nearest contender. Difficult to imagine
Saints losing at home to Worcester Warriors so yet again this is
very much a must win for Quins, hopefully a five pointer. Those
two losses by Quins against Saints and Sharks could yet prove to
be very costly.
On a more positive note we have some notable returnees this week
with Danny Care, Joe Marchant and James Horwill all included in
the starting line up and with Will Collier on the bench. Some
intriguing match ups to look forward too, Marler/Sinckler
against Cole/Genge and Marcus Smith versus George Ford.
Hopefully on the back of last weeks performance in the west
country we can boss the forwards battle; I can well imagine
Tigers wanting to get the ball wide to Jonny May and hope that
he can work his magic against Gabriel Ibitoye. A one minute
silence was observed prior to the game getting underway in
remembrance for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in
Sri Lanka which included some members of the Nicholson family,
Harlequins supporters.
Marcus Smith got the game underway and the clearance kick only
goes as far as Mike Brown who makes ground, passes to Smith who
passes to Alex Dombrandt whose attempted offload to Joe Marchant
is intercepted by Tigers halting what would have been an almost
certain try within the first minute. From the Tigers counter
attack Mike Brown is penalised for not rolling away presenting
Tigers with their first opportunity to score. A good kick from
George Ford from nearly 40 metres out and Tigers take the lead
in under three minute. Another break from Mike Brown sets up a
Quins attack down the left hand side but Danny Cre stumbles
after taking the ball well into the Tigers half. Genge is
penalised and Quins elect for a kick for touch which is found
some 10 metres out from the Tigers line. Dombrandt attacks down
the wing from the line out and although he is stopped s few
metres from the try line, Quins continue to attack and after
Elia is stopped inches short Danny Care gets the ball over the
line. A good kick from Smith and the score moves on to Quins 7
Tigers 3 after around seven minutes of play. Tigers hold on to
the ball for the next few minutes without getting past the Quins
defence but they are eventually rewarded with their second
penalty of the match when Marchant is caught off side. Another
long kick from Ford is successful as Tigers double their points
tally after almost 13 minutes of play.
[attachimg=1]
Eyeball To Eyeball
Quins just about shading both possession and territory as
another fine break by Jack Clifford takes the ball within 10
metres of the Tigers line before Tigers are penalised. A
straightforward conversion by Smith to increase the Quins lead
as the game is four minutes into the second quarter. Tigers
attack from the restart and Smith is adjudged offside giving
George Ford yet another fairly straightforward penalty
conversion attempt. Once again Ford is on target to bring Tigers
within one point of the Quins total, Quins 10 Tigers 9 after 28
minutes of play. Elia is replaced by Rob Buchanan with 34
minutes gone following two earlier replacements for Tigers,
Thompson and Williams, all for head injuries. As half time
approaches Jack Clifford is shown a yellow card following a
collision in the air with Tigers fullback Veanu. Whilst
admitting to being a bit biased it did seem to me to be a
somewhat harsh decision but Wayne Barnes can be a bit pedantic
at times. It seemed that Paul Gustard held the same view as me
as we could be seen on the touchline discussing the situation
with the fourth official. Tigers press the Quins line for the
remaining minutes of the half and they are eventually awarded a
penalty in front of the posts as the Quins defence is drawn
offside. Ford takes his time with the kick and waits for the
clock to go into the red before converting his fourth penalty of
the evening, Quins 10 Tigers 12 at half time.
Two quite different game strategies during the first forty
minutes with Quins trying to keep the ball alive and playing at
tempo while Tigers seemed happy to slow the game down and
playing a more direct game. Thought the scoreline flattered
Tigers a bit but if you give away penalties in kickable
positions at this level, you get what you deserve.
Tigers are much livelier at the start of the second half but
Quins safely negotiate the remaining period of the Clifford
yellow card before a Smith penalty puts Quins back in the lead
nine minutes into the half. Things get even better for Quins six
minutes later when Tigers are penalised again giving Marcus
Smith another chance to increase the Quins lead. The forty metre
kick sails through the posts to bring the score to Quins 16
Tigers 12 after 55 minutes.
[attachimg=2]
Three More Points For Marcus Smith
A counter attack from the home side following the restart set
the crowd buzzing as Dombrandt got the ball to Karl Sinckler who
set off on a 25 metre run into the Tigers half but Gabriel
Itiboye could not get free to finish off the move. As we enter
the final quarter of the match the replacements begin with Semi
Kunatani replacing Alex Dombrandt and Tigers nine Harrisson
replaced by Ben White. Quins definitely have the upper hand
during this final quarter as the penalty count against Tigers
begins to mount with one on 65 minutes drifting wide of the post
from the boot of Smith. Quins are back on the attack from the
restart as another penalty against Tigers allows Smith to find
touch just inside the Tigers twenty two. Quins win the line out
a maul is formed and Danny Care is set free down the blind side
and appears to ground the ball over the line from twenty metres
out. Following discussion between the officials the trial is
disallowed due to a double movement before the grounding giving
Tigers a chance to clear their line from the resulting penalty.
As the game enters the final ten minutes Tigers enjoy a rare
period in the Quins half but it all peters out when a kick from
Ford is kicked directly into touch resulting in a Quins line out
on the halfway line. James Lang replaced Marcus Smith with nine
minutes to go and Dan Cole departs the action at the same time.
Tigers concede yet another penalty for interfering in a Quins
rolling maul which allows Lang to kick to touch just short of
the twenty two. Sam Hildago-Clyne replaces DC prior to the line
out which is won by Quins and following good drives from Robshaw
and Horwill, Kuatani picks up the ball 20 metres out and strides
for the line to touch down for a try under the posts. A very
straightforward conversion by Lang and with six minutes to go
there is a potential match winning score between the sides,
Quins 23 Tigers 12. James Horwill leaves the field of play to a
well deserved standing ovation, this being his last home game
for Quins, to be followed shortly after by Kyle Sinckler the
pair being replaced by Stan South and Will Collier respectively.
Now all that is left to do for Quins is to keep their
concentration and play sensibly, pretty straightforward you
would think. In to the last two minutes and Quins win a penalty
which Lang converts into an attacking line out which Quins win
but are then penalised for holding on in the tackle. Tigers
clear the ball to touch on half way, win the line out and are
going nowhere on or about the Quins ten metre line with the
clock into the red when Quins are penalised for offside. You
just knew where this was going, Ford finds touch in the corner,
Tigers win the line out and after a couple of phases Fitzgerald
touches down to score and give Tigers a losing bonus point.
George Ford is successful with the conversion wide out to take
the final score to Quins 23 Leicester Tigers 19.
That last play of the game just seemed to sum up Quins this
season, do all of the hardwork, lose concentration and give away
points. It did not matter much to Quins in this match but think
back a few weeks when we let Saints sneak a win late in the
game, it can be the difference between a top four spot and
hanging on to qualify for Champions Cup games the following
season. Nonetheless generally a good all round team performance
against a poor but physical Tigers team. What a difference it
makes when Kyle Sinckler concentrates on his rugby and doesn't
get drawn in to any off the ball nonsense. Danny Care, Mike
Brown and Chris Robshaw cannot have failed to impress the
watching Eddie Jones, personally I think with their tally of
International Caps he would be silly not to include them in his
RWC squad. I wonder if Joe Marler might be persuaded to make
himself available! A great performance from the forwards with
the scrum and line out working well and a real captaim`s
performance from the departing James Horwill. Just a word about
Charlie Walker who takes a lot of flak from some quarters; he
didn't have any opportunities in attack but defended pretty well
when required. It was good to hear The Stoop in full voice with
a good turn out for a Friday night match.
So, one match left to the regular season and Quins would be very
unlucky not to nail a top six spot, and with Saints having to
travel to Exeter for their last game, they have a real
opportunity to qualify for the play off stage.
[attachment deleted by admin]
#Post#: 23562--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: Admin
Date: May 8, 2019, 6:35 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Please could I have a round of applause for Bedfordshire Boy and
the hard work he's put in this season getting these match
reports to you! Thank you!
#Post#: 23564--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: Comet
Date: May 9, 2019, 12:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Really good. Thanks very much!
#Post#: 23572--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: May 9, 2019, 3:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Good work BB thank you!
#Post#: 23585--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: Chipstead Quin
Date: May 9, 2019, 5:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you BB , always enjoy reading your reports
#Post#: 23599--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: KiltedQuin
Date: May 9, 2019, 6:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks, lovely detailed and informative report.
#Post#: 23607--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: InsertQuinsPunHere
Date: May 9, 2019, 7:25 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks BB. I think you hold a more positive view of that game
than me, but your summary is fair. I enjoy reading your reports
:)
#Post#: 23615--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Harlequins vs Leicester
DIR By: BedfordshireBoy
Date: May 9, 2019, 8:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: InsertQuinsPunHere link ---
>
> Thanks BB. I think you hold a more positive view of that game
than me, but your summary is fair. I enjoy reading your reports
:)
>
--- End Quote ---
I am one of life's born optimists, only three more games to go
this season 🥴
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1