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Round 13: Harlequins RL 24-17 Wildcats
engage Super League XIV- Round 13
Harlequins RL 24-17 Wakefield Wildcats
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3, 612
A slow start to the second half cost Wakefield dear as they succumbed to their fourth straight defeat at a wet and windy Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins outscored the Wildcats four tries to three, and four excellent conversions from Rob Purdham ensured the two points stayed in the capital city.
The Wildcats welcomed back both Jamie Rooney and Ricky Bibey to the replacements bench after long injury lay-offs, whilst there was a starting wing berth for Luke George.
Wakefield were looking enthusiastic in defence in the early stages and this was epitomised by the a three man tackle that forced the ball loose from full-back Chris Melling after five minutes.
As the Wildcats defence looked to force him into touch the ball spat out to Sam Obst who made the initial dart, before the ball was helped right to Danny Brough who sliced through the Harlequins defence to put the ball down.
The host’s didn’t threaten until the ninth minute when Luke Dorn’s reverse kick from left wing to centre field caused problems for the Wildcats defence, but Matt Blaymire scurried back to kick the ball
dead with a Quins player ready to pounce.
Wakefield were dominating in defence and making good yards in attack, but on 15 minutes Harlequins were in front.
Luke Williamson gave a smart pass to the pacey Dorn who wasn’t going to be stopped from 10 metres.
Rob Purdham used the wind to curl in his conversion, and Brough used the wind to create havoc from the restart. Wakefield claimed possession and Richard Moore burst onto a pass with his first touch before showing nimble footwork and the step of a half-back to leave Melling on his back and allowing the big prop to score under the posts.
Harlequins took a more adventurous approach as they looked to get through a stingy Wakefield defence and they regained the lead on 34 minutes.
Indiscipline cost the West Yorkshire outfit again when a penalty gave Harlequins good field position and Danny Orr’s kick to the left hand corner was out of the reach of Scott Grix and Will Sharp got above him to get the score.
The Wildcats went into the dressing room at the break a single point behind when Brough snapped over a drop goal as the half-time hooter sounded.
If Wakefield’s opening half of the first period was impressive, then the first twenty minutes of the second was far from it.
Sloppy handling errors and regular penalties contributed to their downfall and it was only a matter of time before Harlequins went further in front.
Eight minutes into the second period, and after already having had one try ruled out by Ben Thaler, Orr’s grubber kick was dropped on by David Howell.
On 56 minutes the game seemed as good as over when a simple pass from Chad Randall to the impressive Williamson saw the latter run over Tony Martin to touchdown. Purdham again expertly converted to give the home side a 24-11 lead.
Wakefield looked like a beaten side but showed characteristic grit to try and force their way back into the match.
Aided by some Quins indiscipline the Wildcats had five successive sets to break through the home defence, and when Brough’s lateral run created a space in the defensive line he popped the pass up to former London Bronco Martin to give hope to Wakefield's travelling contingent.
John Kear’s men huffed and puffed as they looked to force a grandstand finish and Atkins and Blaymire had sniffs of the try line but the Quins defence scrambled back well.
Ultimately though it was the third quarter that had cost the Wildcats dear and despite some possession near the try line in the final ten minutes there was too much to do and Ben Thaler’s full-time whistle confirmed a fourth successive defeat.
Teams:
Wakefield: Matt Blaymire, Scott Grix, Jason Demetriou, Ryan Atkins, Luke George, Tony Martin, Danny Brough, Oliver Wilkes, Sam Obst, Danny Sculthorpe, Steve Snitch, Jay Pitts, Kevin Henderson. Replacements: Jamie Rooney, Richard Moore, Frank Winterstein, Ricky Bibey.
Scorers: Tries: Brough, Moore, Martin
Goals: Brough (2)
Drop goals: Brough
Harlequins: Chris Melling, Jon Wells, Matt Gafa, David Howell, Will Sharp, Luke Dorn, Danny Orr, Karl Temata, Chad Randall, Danny Ward, Jason Golden, Luke Williamson, Rob Purdham. Replacements: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Daniel Heckenberg, Ben Kaye, Tony Clubb
Scorers: Tries: Dorn, Sharp, Howell, Williamson
Goals: Purdham (4)
Referee: Ben Thaler
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