Sat 6 Apr 2019, 15:00
OXFORD HARLEQUINS 34 - 35 WITNEY
A gray Saturday afternoon at Horspath Road; Quins new ground, this season. and an artificial pitch. Witney need a win to stay in the SW1E. Quins are safe but have had a poor run, over the last few weeks. A cold, kick assisting Easterly blowing down the pitch.
Witney kicked off, into the wind and within 2 minutes Quins were a Goal up: Quins mauled from a Lineout on Halfway, making 15m. the ball was released right and a scissors to FB, Johnnie Henderson, went Left and a straighten up took him through the Witney defence to score. RW Antonio Turetta converting. 7 - 0
(8mins)Quins had been on the attack up to this point through clever running ,by the Backs and support by the Forwards. At last Witney had the ball in Quins Half and FH, Ted Landray, missed a Penalty Goal.
(15 mins)Witney Captain and Centre, Matt Clarke, with one of his typical Defence breaking runs; jinks and hand-offs, broke through to the 22. Quins then gave away a series of Penalties; diving over, off side, collapsing a maul in front of the posts and after they collapsed another maul. after a Witney Penalty Lineout, the Referee had no hesitation in awarding a Penalty Try. 7- 7
(23 mins)Since the last score Quins had dominated, but Witney had stolen two of Quins' Penalty Lineouts. Witney won a turnover in their 22 but knocked on. Quins easily won the scrum and Henderson scored, Turetta converting. 14 - 7
(27 mins)Witney steal another Quins' Penalty Lineout, on the Witney 22.
(29 mins)Still dominating the game Quins 2nd Row, Freddie Myatt, went over the whitewash and Turetta converted. 21 - 7
Quins although looking dangerous since their last score had been unableto get more points until Turetta kicked a penalty goal in the 44th minute. 24 - 7
Half Time
Things not looking too good for Witney. They were having trouble coping with Quins' "tricky" Backs and the good support play by their Forwards and the Quins' tight scrums were giving Witney's a torrid time. However the Witney Lineout play looked the best this season and in the 2nd Half the wind would be behind Landray's boot.
Quins kicked off the re-start and play went up and down the pitch.
(8mins)From a Lineout on Halfway, Witney mauled to the 22 where Quins collapsed it. Witney mauled again from the 5m Lineout and Quins again collapsed it and again the Referee awarded a Penalty Try. 24 - 14
(13 mins)Since the last score Quins had been in Witney's Half. a breakway along the Left had been stopped just short of the Line by FB, Tom Gaffney. The ball was spilled forward into Witney hands and passed to Landray, 5m out and in front of the Posts. He sold a dummy and in one of his snaking runs he was through making it to Halfway and passing to, speedy, 2nd Row Scott Mortimer who was caught on the 22. The ball went Right and the final pass to RW, Joe Tturberville was knocked down but it went backwards. Turberville regathered and scored. Landray converting from the wing. 24 - 21
( 19 mins) Still dominating in the field of play, Quins took a Quick tap Penalty in Witney's 22 but could not get over the Line. Witney had gone off side and Quins chose a Penalty Scrum, which Witney held and then after many left and rights Centre, Matrin Nutt, crossed the whitewash. Turetta converting. 31 - 21
(26 mins)FB Gaffney again had to make a chase back tackle.
(34 mins)Quins in Witney 22 making many attacks on the Witney Try Line,with Witney defence hanging on but giving away a Penalty, in front of the Posts which Turetta converted. 34 - 21
(41 mins)Another Quins breakaway down the Left Wing stopped in the 22. Then a Witney scrum 10m out pushed Quins scrum back
(46 mins)Witney were now in the ascendancy and their scrum was trundling Quins' back. Witney mauled from a Lineout on Halfway, pushing up to the 22. the ball was moved right and rucked. 2nd Row, Wayne Caffekey picked up and surged over the Line. SH, Arrun Lambourne converting. 34 - 28
(51 mins) Witney attacked, with great determination, from the restart and 3 minutes later, after many left & right passing movements in Quins' 22, and a scramble in froot of the Posts, Gaffney picked up and burst over the Line giving Lambourne an easy convdersio and a 1 point win to Witney. 34 - 35.
No side
Quins must have wondered how they had lost that game. They had been so dominant for most of the game. However the Witney Lineout play was the best of the Season and after being pushed around in the tight scrums for 3/4s of the game, all credit to the Witney front eight's stamina and fitness for doing the same to Quin's eight for the last quarter. Also the Witney tackling tightened up forcing handling errors etc.. Doubt whether any Witney supporter would have forecast a win, right up to the 6th minute of injury time, which was very lengthy but there were lots of stoppages. Guts and determination! What great entertainment!
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