Gloucester battered by Quins’ storm troopers
WE HAD thunder and lightning on and off the field for 20 minutes at the Stoop yesterday which was more than enough for Quins to seize this game and claim a morale restoring victory after the disappointment of defeat against London Irish first time out.
The game had been spluttering in the first quarter when a spectacular storm hit the ground and it was Quins who took inspiration and taped into the electricity.
First Charlie Walker lit up the game with a spectacular 75-yard break that was thwarted before Dave Ward sprinted onto a clever inside pass to score under the posts for Marcus Smith to convert.
The young fly-half was an early replacement for Demetri Catrakalis who departed on a stretcher with a throat injury that had seen him stop breathing briefly before the medics arrived.
With the pressure off a little, 18-year-old Smith enjoyed a fine game after distinctly mixed fortunes against London Irish on his debut last week.
The recent graduate of Brighton College initiated a cracking score as halftime approached, launching a counter-attack from Quins own half which was taken on by Mike Brown and Marland Yarde before the excellent Walker applied the finishing touch.
Gloucester had been so poor that a 17-3 half-time deficit always seemed beyond them and so it proved although their spirits did lift a little when they grabbed the first score of the second half, flanker Freddie Clarke touching down.
Clarke’s try did not signify a change in Gloucester’s fortunes, however. Rather Quins stirred themselves again and took a firm grip on proceedings. Smith, although missing one relatively simple penalty attempt, was successful with two others and then the home side put the game out of sight with a third try, this time for the deserving Yarde who was at his hard working and challenging best.
Yarde had already sparked one promising Quins attack which resulted in a touchdown although the TMO intervened after identifying a forward pass. There was no mistake soon after when Danny Care, with Smith temporarily out of action with cramp, looked up and in the absence of a fly-half decided to launch a speculative crossfield kick towards the right touchline.
Yarde won the ball, Mike Brown carried the move on forcibly and then found Yarde in support on the inside for an excellent score.
At 28-10 the game was won but could Quins get the bonus point? They went in search but after a disappointing afternoon Gloucester and their strong bench at least went down fighting and after defending strongly even managed another try themselves right at the death.
Quins had seemingly resisted Gloucester’s last serious attack but in the final play of the game – a Quins lineout – they were turned over and replacement flanker Jacob Rowan plunged over.
Billy Twelvetrees even converted from out wide but the late points offered little consolation after a poor Gloucester performance.