Date: Saturday 23rd April 2005

Park’s Pace Keeps Quins at Bay

(Rosslyn Park 27 - Harlequin Ladies 5)

When the Harlequin Ladies were invited to play in the curtain-raiser for the final mens’1st XV game at Rosslyn Park, the pace of Park’s backs ensured a healthy victory for the home team, writes Jo Everett.

Although Quins started well, putting Park under presuure early on, the home team defended well. Once Park had secured possession, they took the ball out wide and ran around a sleepy Quins defence.

Rosslyn Park soon secured a second try, once again pulling in the Quins defence before using their pace in the backs. Harlequins were able to pull one back when Jo Everett, at outside – centre, retrieved a loose ball and ran through a scattered Park defence.

Quins came close to scoring again in the first half, but by keeping the ball in tight, rather than using the numbers out wide, they were unable to get through Park’s defensive line.

Further tries followed for Rosslyn Park in the second half, and Quins seemed to lose their focus. Only in the final few minutes were the visitors able to play a more attacking game, but it was a case of too little too late, leaving the Premiership 2 side with a well-earned victory, and Quins with yet another defeat to contemplate.

This weekend will be the final game of the season for the Harlequin Ladies, who after a long and challenging season, finish 6th in Division 1 South-East. The Ladies will be holding the Sue Moloney Memorial Cup game at the Stoop after the men’s 1st XV game against Sale. The Ladies 1st XV will play the Old Girls in memory of their teammate Sue, who died from meningitis five years ago.