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Quins Edge Out Reserves
St Helens Reserve Team 28 v 30 Harlequins Reserve Team
By Graham Henthorne, Team Manager
Two tries in a disastrous three minute period half way through the second half ultimately cost the Reserves the points.
In a game switched to Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC’s Close Street ground in an effort to safeguard the pitch for the First Team game later in the evening, the Reserves found themselves up against a very strong Quins outfit containing no less than six first team players.
The opening score came from Quins on their first possession. Speedy centre Lamont Bryan latched onto Dylan Skee’s cross field kick to cross in the corner after the Saints had been caught short out wide.
But the Saints were brought back into it as Andy Yates broke through down the middle. He took it on to the full back and fed the lively Greg Smith outside to go the final 30 metres to the posts.
Smith was troubling the Quins every time he touched the ball and it was him who again broke down the right only to be caught close to the line. As the ball was moved left Karl Ashall chose to dart over at dummy half when the numbers were out wide and the chance was lost.
As is often the case Quins went straight down the other end and regained the lead.
Having lost Kurt Haggerty to the sin bin the Saints were further hampered as sub prop Ste Lucas had to be helped from the field with a knee injury. Still shorthanded Warren Thompson came to the rescue saving a certain try with a great tackle.
On the half hour stand off Lee Gaskell finally broke his shackles. However, instead of going for the line he tries to sidestep inside the full back and was stopped. From the play the ball Phil Baines made the numbers count as he put Dave Sutton in at the corner.
On the stroke of half time Quins stretched their lead as Bryan scored his second and Mick Nanyn kicked his third goal.
The Saints rode their luck a bit at the start of the second half as Quins had tries disallowed down both flanks. But the Reserves gained confidence from this and it was Gaskell who again broke free down the right. He went to the full back and fed it inside to the supporting Jamie Ellis who rode the tackle from the covering winger to score under the posts. His conversion bringing the Saints back to within two at 16 – 18.
On top at this stage the Saints pinned Quins back for three repeat sets but crucially couldn’t break through. On the last of these Jamie Ellis chose to pass instead of going himself and was picked off for a 70 metre interception try.
This knocked the stuffing out of the Saints and they conceded again quickly to fall 14 points behind.
But the revival was sparked by Dave Sutton’s good, quick restart return taking the play into Quins territory.
With seven minutes to go Gaskell took the line on, dummied and put Chris Dean through the hole. Ellis converted and there was a glimmer of a chance.
This increased three minutes later as Ellis chipped the defence, regained possession and fed Gaskell. He in turn found Kurt Haggerty who took it to the full back but when he should have gone himself he fed Gaskell again only to have the pass ruled forward.
This was costly as the Saints pulled back to within two on the next set. Ellis again chipped the defence, the ball was hacked on by Alex Asher, picked up by Sutton and Asher went in at the corner via Dale Bloomfield’s pass.
Against the calibre of opposition this was a decent result, but all involved know that had the players stuck to the game plan then victory could have been theirs. Best for the Saints were Yates, Liam Bostock and Greg Smith.
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St Helens Reserve Team
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Harlequins Reserves Team
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St Helens Reserve Team:
Tries: Greg Smith, Chris Dean, Dave Sutton, Jamie Ellis.
Goals: Jamie Ellis 4.
Harlequins Reserve Team:
Tries: Lamont Bryan 2, Dylan Skee, Tony Gigot, Mick Nanyn.
Goals: Mick Nanyn 5.
Half Time: 10-18
Full Time: 28-30
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