Last week I wondered whimsically whether Quins might be the next to lose their mojo. Read on…
Exeter Chiefs v Quins
Chiefs achieved a unique triumph in beating both the runaway leaders of the league in successive weeks. The lowest scoring games are often the most riveting, and this was one of the best.
Chiefs found their mark after only five minutes; they kicked to the corner and McKinley Hunt found her way over the line for Gabby Cantorna to convert. (7-0) They displayed great skill and togetherness in these opening stages, actually stealing an attacking Quins line-out, which is a rarity. They showed their self-confidence in opting for a scrum in their own 22 rather than a kick. They have a powerful, well-balanced pack, and behind them Flo Robinson made Patricia Garcia’s absence – she has returned to Spain for international preparations – less worrying that it might have been.
Quins worked the ball close enough for Ellie Green to pot a penalty, bringing them back into range. (7-3)
After the water-break Chiefs again showed their defensive commitment, winning a turnover on their own line. Garnet Mackinder was able to scuff the ball clear to safety. Quins may have been short of playing-time – their last bout was seven weeks ago – but they simply aren’t used to being rebuffed like this.
They put the hosts under huge pressure, but when they seemed to be over the line, the referee called ‘knock on!’ Then a likely penalty from Green pinged back off a post and Rachael Burford couldn’t hang on to the ricochet. Exeter were giving away too many penalties at this stage, but Quins’ inability to get over the line made you wonder if this wasn’t going to their day.
Green managed a second kick at goal to reduce the half-time margin to one point.
Half-time: 7-6
This was another fine exhibition of top-quality Prem 15s rugby. You had internationals spread all over the field, and youngsters like Robinson and Merryn Doidge showed plenty of class.
As the second half wore on defences remained in charge; ground was yielded grudgingly, and it wasn’t a day for slick handling through the backs. Instead it was players like Sachiko Kato up front who took the limelight. Her work-rate and fitness were as high as her skill-level. With others like Kate Zackary, Ebony Jefferies and Linde van der Velden in the back-row doing their darndest, Quins were going to need something special to turn the game.
It didn’t happen. Quite remarkably the second half remained scoreless; the tightest of tight margins meant that players couldn’t relax for a second. The tension built as the clock ticked on.
Quins saw more of the ball in the last quarter, but they couldn’t complete their moves. You had to wonder whether Leanne Riley was right to delay moving the ball behind rucks three times in succession. As she manoeuvred her forwards into the next attacking position, so the Exeter defence had time to count heads and organise defensive lines.
When the ball was moved wider, the Chiefs’ line-speed ensured danger could be snuffed out. Even when Jess Breach came on to attempt a rescue, she found herself being shepherded infield into a defensive net.
Exeter did a lot of kicking of every sort, box-kicks, long diagonals, defensive clearances; but they may look at replays and wonder if their aiming-points were the right ones. Still, for all Quins’ famed counter-attacking skills, they couldn’t plot a path through the undergrowth.
Drama came when Michaella Roberts was left on the ground in pain. The referee conferred with his AR and brandished a red card. Emily Robinson, Flo’s sister, but on the other side, had to walk. This was the third red of the season. This made Quins’ task harder, but the tension remained for those last minutes. It needed huge concentration and commitment to foil their attempts to turn the game.
Result: 7-6
Susie Appleby has put together a squad that can really play. Their defence is unremitting, their pack hard-working and effective; their backs resourceful. Quins weren’t at their strongest; no Cornborough, Beckett or Brown, but they usually have the wherewithal to overcome such shortages. Today they couldn’t. That was the second blow they have suffered this week, See below.
The Other Matches
Wasps gained their expected victory over Warriors at home by a comfortable margin. Like Warriors (and Quins and many others), they had the odd first-choice player missing, but even the absent Ellie Kildunne wasn’t badly missed, as Abby Dow put on another of her special turns at full-back. Megan Jones converted five of their six tries.
Gloucester-Hartpury had too much nous for Sale at Heywood Road, but they desperately needed every point they could squeeze out of the game. It meant that the last moments were spent anxiously on the hosts’ line, looking for an elusive 4-try bonus. They rattled the door several times before Bianca Blackburn performed a final twist to force her way over. Fifth point assured.
Bristol are going through a difficult period. They have lost the only head coach they have known since the Prem 15s kicked off in 2017, then had to travel to Loughborough to face a top-4 team. They had Sarah Bern back in the ranks, but to counter that Lightning could offer Cath O’Donnell in a very welcome return to action after a lengthy lay-off. She marked the occasion by scoring the first of her team’s five tries. Emily Scarratt kept in practice by nailing five kicks at goal.
To fit in all the forward talent he has available, Rhys Edwards put Morwenna Talling on the blind-side and Rachel Malcolm, his skipper, at No 8. Life becomes difficult when you have too many outstanding players on your books!
Jasmine Joyce scored the first of Bears’ two tries in the third minute. She remains the brightest light in their system.
Holly Aitchison outdid Meg Jones’ potting tally by converting nine of Sarries’ eleven tries at Durham University. Poppy Cleall helped herself to three of them. News of DMP’s progress comes below.
Results:
DMPDS 3 Saracens 73
Exeter 7 Harlequins 6
Loughborough 42 Bristol 14
Sale 7 Gloucester-Hartpury 26
Wasps 40 Worcester 3
Other News
New Regulations claim a victim
For the first time in the Premier 15s brief history a game has been cancelled because of a breach of Minimum Operating Standards. Harlequins failed to make a video recording of a training session, so when a positive virus test was disclosed, they had to isolate 28 players. They have lodged an appeal. Maddeningly one of the two much anticipated clashes between the leaders of the pack won’t take place. The one that remains is on a distant 27 March, and Quins will have to beat the champions away from home. As it is, Sarries won a game 0-0 (an all-time first?) and gain a full five points. Such was the Disputes Committee’s decision. All ten sides have now suffered a loss.
DMP Durham Sharks start rebuilding
DMPDS have made two important announcements: they have appointed Rob Vickers as Performance Manager and Jake Rodgers as Assistant Coach with immediate effect; and they have made a permanent change of home ground: they move north from the Darlington Arena to Durham University’s splendid sports complex at Maiden Castle. Let’s hope the management take-over brings an improvement to the club’s well-being. The primary reason for the change of site is to simplify compliance with vital Covid-19 regulations, but the arena, for all its cavernous size, wasn’t the most favourable location for the club.
The news came four days before the Saracens match, so the two new men had minimum time to set out their stall.
DMP face a daunting series of fixtures on their new artificial surface. They play Wasps, Sale, Loughborough, Gloucester-Hartpury and Quins to finish.
Officials:
DMP Durham Sharks v Saracens
Referee: Ben Rayner
ARs: David Charlton and Adam Morrison
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Referee: Nick Wood
ARs: Adam Wookey and Richard Waller
Loughborough Lightning v Bristol Bears
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: James Clarke and Peter Caunt
Sale Sharks v Gloucester-Hartpury
Referee: Owen Taylor
ARs: James O’Brien and Nia Parsonage
Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
ARs: Neil Sweeney and Mike Woods
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Table P W L B Pts
Quins 9 8 1 9 41
Saracens 9 8 1 8 40
Wasps 10 8 2 7 39
Lightning 11 8 3 7 39
Exeter 11 6 5 6 30
Glos-Pury 10 5 5 5 25
Bristol 11 3 8 6 18
Worcester 11 3 8 3 15
Sale 9 1 8 1 5
DMPDS 9 0 9 0 0
The table awaits Quins’ appeal. The top two places may subsequently switch.
Rosewatch
It’s time to start up the Rosewatch again. There are eight weeks to the rescheduled 2021 6 Nations. To calculate the missing Red Roses this year is more complex, as no list of contracted players has been posted since the last agreements ended in August 2020. But notable absentees from Round 11 include:
Amber Reed
Amelia Harper
Claudia Macdonald
Ellie Kildunne
Hannah Botterman
Heather Kerr
Laura Keates
Lydia Thompson
Sarah Beckett
Sarah Hunter
Shaunagh Brown
Vickii Cornborough
Zoe Aldcroft
Zoe Harrison
