Gloucester 15 - 22 Harlequins
On
Friday, the Harlequins travelled up the M4 to secure a sentimental
victory in front of a crowd of 14,300; their first at Kingsholm since
1999. Gloucester were on the front foot in the first half but they
lost their way in the second, as the control and power of the
Harlequins pack took centre stage and they rampaged; refocusing and
regrouping to steal the win, 15-22; driving over the Cherry and
Whites like a tractor on squelchy mud – well that's what the West
Country's renowned for – right?
“This
is a massive win for us” said
Conor O'Shea.
In
the first quarter, it was the reliable boot of ‘released back from
the England squad,’ Billy Twelvetrees who secured two penalties. It
was the perfect platform to nudge Gloucester forward and enabled a
strong and stable maul to manipulate the Quins defenders, sucking
them in like a hoover. A pass from Twelvetrees out wide, gave Rob
Cook the chance to slide over but a decent Quins defence held the
ball up!
However
the visitors didn't do themselves any favours minutes later, when
Karl Dickson was pinged at the scrum for being offside. Twelvetrees
confidently converted the Cherry and Whites third penalty of the
game, just past the twenty minute mark.
On
the front foot the West Country pack looked vicious, pressurising the
Harlequins, forcing errors and Quins conceded their second penalty in
three minutes as the boot of Twelvetrees, with the moves like Jagger,
slotted another between the uprights, 12-0.
Back
came Quins. A driving maul led by Nick Easter saw him touch down for
the London side and Nick Evans narrowed the difference with a penalty
shortly after.
Really,
the home side should have dented the score board a little more whilst
in the driving seat. Four penalties in the first half from the boot
of Twelvetrees was a special offer; one that could be withdrawn at
any time or rather as soon as the opposition stopped racking up
infringements.
HT
12-10
It
could've gone either way in the second half ... the momentum was
there from Gloucester but they failed to execute play concisely and
effectively and Quins snatched it when it mattered most. A driving
maul off a line out, saw Luke Wallace career his men over the line
after a 30 metre drive, with a quarter of the match left to play. It
displayed marvellous grit and determination.
www.zimbio.com |
An
easy penalty saw the boot of Aled Thomas strike the ball well for
Gloucester's fifth penalty of the match and it looked to be all
systems go with Gloucester on the attack as they pounded the Quins
defence. But 17 phases later, the visitors came out unscathed from
the beating and the home side empty handed in a bullish period of
play. It just wasn't enough against a defiant and resilient
Harlequins side.
And
to rub the West Country mud into their faces a little more, Karl
Dickson saw an opportunity for a beautiful chip in Gloucester's 22 in
the closing five of the game, chased down by Charlie Walker who flew
over to secure the Harlequins first victory at Kingsholm in 15 years!
FT
15-22
If
I'm honest, this game wasn't fruitful or exciting. It was a tough
game of rugby played in the middle of the field - really emphasising
the defensive play between these two sides leaving little room for
unforced error. A focussed Gloucester side stood tall in the first
half but a well drilled, controlled Harlequins pack took the bull by
the horns so to speak in the second, with their devilish driving
mauls - and it's fair to say, Man of The Match, Luke Wallace, did a
sterling job in the number 7 shirt – relishing and delighting in
the role in Chris Robshaw's absence!
He
said after the game;
“...We
really want to focus on staying where we are at the very least and
hopefully moving up in the table.”
“...I'm
one of the more experienced players there now which is quite scary at
24 but it's good to get a run in the 7 jersey.”
But
it was a sore loss for the Cherry and Whites, but nothing that can't
be fixed. There are a lot of young academy players developing and
filtering through in all Premiership clubs whilst the more
experienced players are on International duty and sometimes the right
formula isn't always the first ...
Keep
plugging away Glaws and well done Quins!