AS ONE of the traditional Premiership heavyweights, Harlequins have spent most of this season packing a punch that would struggle to make an impact on a paper bag, but they just about kept themselves in with a sniff of European rugby next year by ending a five-game losing run. They still have a lot to do to finish seventh in the Premiership, and qualify for a European champions playoff game against their French equivalents.
It was in keeping with Quins’ season that they were made to work very hard to beat modest visitors in London Irish, who had nothing to play for despite halting a four-match losing streak of their own the previous week with a win against the Premiership whipping boys London Welsh.
In the first half hour the Quins No 10 Nick Evans kicked four penalties, while his opposite number Shane Geraghty landed two.
The home side’s first try was the result of them finally having the courage to move the ball wide, Danny Care taking the final pass before going in under the posts.
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However, with Quins threatening again soon after by opting for an attacking penalty lineout instead of a kick at goal, they somehow managed to concede a try at the other end. An overthrow to the back gifted Irish the ball, Geraghty hoofed it downfield, and when full-back Ross Chisholm compounded his error of allowing the ball to bounce by then waiting for it to drop obligingly into his arms, Irish wing James Short nipped in to score under the posts.
In the second half, Evans made an early break to set up Quins’ second try through Matt Hopper. Irish won a losing bonus point with 14 minutes to go with a try by centre Tom Fowlie.
Conor O’Shea , Quins director of rugby, said: “At times it looked as though we would score some great tries, but we didn’t. I’d love it to be beautiful to watch the whole time, but it never has been and never will be.”
He also hinted, bizarrely, that Quins would be more successful if they were as boring as some other Premiership teams. “We carry, pass and offload more than anyone, and a cynic would say we’ve been found out. If it is a sin to want to play rugby and not just kick-chase then the game has got to ask itself serious questions.
“I wouldn’t like to be playing against us in our last five games as we’re going to give it a right old rip.”
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Star man: Nick Evans (Harlequins)
Harlequins: Chisholm (Monye 62min); Yarde, Hopper, Sloan, Walker; Evans, Care (Dickson 61min); Lambert, Ward, Shields, Matthews (Talei 53min), Robson (capt), Clifford, Wallace, Easter
London Irish: Fenby; Lewington, Fowlie, Sheridan, Short (Griffin 52min); Geraghty (capt), Steele (Allinson 48min) ; Court (Parr 17min) (Court 21min) (Parr 61min), Paice, Aulika (Halavatau 48min), Rouse, Sinclair (Cox 63min), Treviranus (Narraway 32min), Cowan, Guest