Drama and disappointment in equal measure
A match of the highest quality has left both sides feeling they squandered the prize they sought.
Bristol Bears achieved a momentous away win, but failed to secure an essential bonus point. Quins suffered an unwelcome home defeat, to leave them with an away tie against Sarries who demolished them 33-10 at the Stoop. I offer the top of the overnight table below.
Bears made an early statement, running the ball out from deep defence. They didn’t kick till Keira Bevan planted a long diagonal that Ellie Kildunne couldn’t prevent bouncing out. Then followed an even deadlier kick by Holly Aitchison to put Bears in pole position. In the end it amounted to four devilish kicks from a side that doesn’t kick!
There followed a wonderful open span of play, full of adventure from both sides; Quins running from behind their line, Bears flinging it wide to both wings. Then Bevan hoisted a magical 50/22 diagonal.
It worked wonders. Behind the line-out Phoebe Murray picked an acute angle, brushed off a tackle by Danelle Lochner and was through to the line. The conversion hit the outside of the post. 0-5
Quins went straight back on attack, won a penalty in front, but chose to go for the corner. The tactic didn’t succeed. What will the post-match analysts say?
Quins were holding Bears’ England front-row well, but over the first quarter they were guilty of more handling errors.
An astonishing turnabout came on the half-hour. A loose pass caused Reneeqa Bonner to go to ground unsupported. At the penalty Claudia Peña tapped quickly and placed a perfect grubber through to the line. Kildunne climbed into her F1 machine to win the touchdown. Scintillating! 5-5
At a defensive line-out Quins let a very simple score slip though their fingers. Lark Atkin-Davies threw short to Alisha Joyce-Butchers and she crossed unmolested. Who was marking whom? A fine Aitchison conversion made it 5-12.
The remaining five minutes of the half were drama with a capital D. Was it a high tackle on Evie Gallagher? The ref and the TMO (yes, this was a televised match!) said no. The game went on and Lochner kicked a loose ball though nearly to the line. Quins attacked fiercely. An injury interrupted the flow, and sure enough, a vital Quins line-out wasn’t accurate.
Half-time 5-12
This might have been a world cup semi, such was the pace of play, the tension and the enthusiasm of the crowd.
Bevan started the second half with a telling break from an unguarded ruck, and Bears went on a passing spree. Quality all round, they picked up penalties as they went. Bears were all over Quins, right up to a metre out, then the referee spotted a tiny knock-on.
On 51 minutes Amber Reed went down injured. Her team continued flinging the ball about, then, not for the first time, lost it. Quins countered dangerously, but too close to Reed, so she saved her side, even when on the deck. She was able to continue, denying Meg Varley an early entrance.
Now it was Quins’ turn. Thrilling passes out to the right, involving Kildunne and Beth Wilcock saw the ball come back the other way. Who was there to receive it? Kildunne again! She refused to let three players (or was it five?) pull her down and she planted the ball. Quite astonishing; her 32nd try this year. By the way, that left her still three behind Millie David in PWR tries, but David was on the bench today, denied a start by Ilona Maher, who couldn’t stop Kildunne on her first foray to that try. Bern was left with the unequal task of stopping her, as she accelerated a second time. 10-12
Bears’ passing could make you feel quite giddy. They came closer and closer to the line; in the end the pack had to take over; Simi Pam and Hollie Cunningham made vigorous thrusts, but it was Bern who claimed their third try. One more still needed for the vital bonus. 10-19
Perhaps it was inevitable that they gave away an unnecessary penalty just as Dave Ward was passing judgement on his team for TV. Bevan looked around as the ball lay at her feet behind a thinly protected ruck. Quins drove right over the ball.
On 67 minutes Kildunne deposited Maher into touch. The crowd approved.
In the closing stages the heat rose. Memo, it was a bitterly cold evening, but the occasional temper frayed. Bears were desperate for that bonus, but Peña, amongst others, kept applying a brake on their progress.
On 78 minutes Bears won a penalty, but only just inside Quins’ half. A pause for an injury to Abbie Ward, and the game went on inconclusively. The referee said: “Time is up”, and Keira Bevan hoofed the ball into the stand. Was that a team decision? That missing bonus point could yet cost dear.
Result: Quins 10 Bears 19
Player of the Match: Christiana Balogun
Attendance: 6,780, a ground record for a standalone match
Teams:
Quins
1 Turani 2 C. Powell 3 Hanlon 4 Fleming 5 Leaney 6 Bonar 7 Grant 8 Konkel (captain) 9 Packer 10 K. Powell 11 Neumann 12 Tuima 13 Pena 14 Wilcock 15 Kildunne
16 C. Phillips 17 Spurrier 18 Delgado 19 Shirley 20 Meuller 21 Aucken 22 Parry 23 Prins
Bristol
1 Botterman 2 Atkin-Davies 3 Bern 4 Cunningham 5 Ward 6 A. Joyce-Butchers 7 Balogun 8 Gallagher 9 Bevan 10 Aitchison 11 Maher 12 Reed 13 Murray 14 Bonner 15 Keight
16 H. Phillips 17 Pam 18 Clarke 19 Burns 20 Nigrelli 21 Lewis 22 Varley 23 David
The top 5
Table P W Pts
Glos-Pury 14 11 58
Quins 15 11 55
Bristol Bears 16 10 53
Saracens 14 10 53
Exeter Chiefs 14 9 46
Memo: 16 rounds in all
Afterthoughts
Almost too many for my own good.
There was a vibrant atmosphere in the big crowd, it was good seeing two-and-a-half stands brimming with support.
Look again at the losses the top five have suffered. That is unprecedented.
John Mitchell was there to see if anyone came up to the standards he expects. Sarah Bern, for one, is playing as well as I can ever remember.
Beth Wiicock’s 100th appearance for the hosts came fittingly against Maher. She kept her on a short lead.
The semi-final line-up remains in doubt. Bears’ regular season is done; next week they can only sit and watch.
