AGRFU Championship: Abu Dhabi Harlequins II – 5-5

18/09/2009

AGRFU Championship: Abu Dhabi Harlequins II – 5-5 – Dubai Dragons II

Friday 18 September, 2009 – The Sevens, Dubai: Abu Dhabi Harlequins II’s played their first game of the 2009/10 season against last year’s Arabian Gulf Championship League winners, the Dubai Dragons IIs.

Led by coach, Colin Mann, and team captain, Peter Muldoon, the players were keen to make their mark in the Championship after a hard-worked Pre-season and to avenge the painful memory of last season’s encounter with the Dragons where they were beaten by over 50-points.

The Dragons, boasting a 1st XV fly-half, an experienced 9-10 combination and two large centres looked confident in the warm-up going through their phase play.

7.00pm: A perfectly weighted kick-off by Quins fly-half, Hansie Ramakumba, saw the ball go 10 metres where it was quickly re-captured and recycled in possession. Once they had the ball, the Quins held on to it and completely dominated the game. The Dragons hardly had the ball long enough to get into a rhythm and make their mark on the game.

The forwards, led by front-rower John McCoppin and orchestrated by scrum-half Paddy Heggarty, relished the contact up front creating a solid platform for the rest of the team that saw the loose forwards, led by Niko Van Niekerk, working hard to maintain possession of the ball.

Camped in the Dragons’ half of the pitch for the first 20 minutes of the game, the backs attacked with purpose working from great distribution from Paddy Haggarty and some penetrating runs from man-of-the-match David Stolzenburg (a.k.a. ‘The Claw’) playing at centre and full-back, Lloyd Edmunds, supporting from deep.

However, the Quins were unable to convert the pressure into points, which culminated in a disallowed try when Lloyd Edmunds went over near the posts after a period of applied pressure in the Dragons’ 22.

The Dragons gradually took hold of the game for the remainder of the first-half, where the Quins had to dig deep to defend against penetrating runs from their large forwards around the break-down area where flanker Craig Ciura had to put in some thumping tackles to break Dragons’ attack.

Half-time: Quins 0-0 Dragons

Making substitutions up front, the Quins aimed to reproduce the form and dominance they had early in the match. However, the Dragons had gained in confidence and, from the start of the second half, the game was evenly matched.

The Quins stuck to their resolve and 10 minutes in steadily regained possession through turn-over ball through hard-working flanker, Sam Cook. This period also saw some strong penetrating runs from winger, Stallone Junkeer (a.k.a ‘Rocky’).

Gaining in self-belief, the Quins moved up the field into Dragon territory where they had the opposition on the back-foot in their 22.

Sensing blood, after a series of scoring attempts overseen by Ramakumba and Heggarty, the Quins pressed on with their attack. Winger Ali Murray crashed over the line on the left after some quick thinking and a great pass from David Stolzenburg. The try was unconverted and the Quins led 5-0.

Not wanting to lose their second game of the season, the defending champions came out fighting and the match was an even contest for the remainder of the half, with both teams attacking and defending in loose play, each struggling to find any real form or continuity.

Sensing the end of the game, the Dragons dug deep with 10 minutes to go and after a series of attacks in the Quins 22, scored close to the posts in the 78th minute. With the try so close to the posts, the game looked set for a 7-5 loss. The Quins did not give up.

The Dragons’ scrum-half set the ball up for the conversion and walked back to take the kick. The Quins raced out from under the posts, led by David Stolzenburg, who charged the ball down. The Dragons failed to convert and the game was drawn at 5-5. The Quins failed to convert two penalties during the game could have resulted in a win.

A promising display for the most part by the Quins, which saw good team structure, a passionate defence and some penetrating attack play, which should hold them in good stead for the remainder of the season.

The Quins IIs take on Al Ain 1st XV next week at home as a double-header with the Mens 1st XV, but will do so without full-back, Lloyd Edmunds, who will be out for around 6 weeks with a torn hamstring.

Shaun Pearson
From the Bench

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