Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV 14 - 23 Oxford Harlequins 1st XV

AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 14 VS 23 OXFORD HARLEQUINS

Oxford Harlequins travelled to Amersham last Saturday knowing a win was vital for their chances of survival.

The travelling side started well & had the first real scoring opportunity after some powerful running from the forwards set up good field position deep in Amersham’s 22. Quins had numbers out wide & with better execution of the pass should have scored out wide. The referee, however, had spotted an earlier Chiltern infringement at the breakdown & awarded a penalty in front of the posts. A simple 3 pointer. 0-3 to the visitors.

The home side then started to get a lot of possession & Quins were struggling to keep them at bay. From one deft chip from the Amersham 10, Ross Bugden & a fortuitous bounce into the outside centre, Craig Webb’s hands, who, in turn slipped to right winger, Jerry Rice to race in under the posts. Bugden adding the simple conversion. 7 – 3.

Quins forwards now started to slowly take control of the game, winning the little battles at the breakdown & seemed to have the edge discipline wise.

The influential Quins No.8 made a sharp break in midfield & made a good 30 metres before being hauled down, but with a neat offload off the floor to the supporting Jack Couzens to sprint 25metres to score under the posts. Joey Todd knocking the conversion over. 7- 10 to the visitors.

The half seemed to be fizzling out at that score, but from an innocuous position on half way the home side launched an attack playing the short side. Quins defence seemed to be well marshalled, but weak tackling enabled left winger, Brad Reeve to breeze in behind the post for another simple conversion for Bugden.

Half Time 14-10.

Second half was not a pretty sight but a highly effective one from the away side.

The forwards really took control & were causing problems for the home team at scrum time enabling scrum half to nab the No. 8 , James Hogan, before he could get into any sort of stride.

The breakdowns were being keenly contested, Quins’ good discipline keeping the right side of the referee.

Through the hard work of their pack & the now much more highly effective defence in midfield, Quins really took a stranglehold of the game, containing Amersham in their own half for most of the second period.

A good forward rumble at pace allowed Quins flanker, Sione Vaiomounga, to pick up at base of ruck and sprint for the line, just managing to hold off scrambling defenders to make the touchdown. Joey Todd converting. 14-17.

Amersham were penalised twice late on, allowing Quins to kick both to take the game away from Amersham.

Full Time 14 - 23