Quins’ rugby wings clipped by Jaguars
The second half was pretty much the same as the Quins forwards kept the home team busy.
THE much-anticipated 2015 rugby season kicked off on Saturday and two front runners Harlequins and Jaguars clashed in the opening round of fixtures.
The season opener ended in disappointment for the Quins boys as Jaguars clipped their wings in both games.
The 2nd XV kicked off the day and the fixture proved a tough, close encounter. It was a decent start by Quins with the home team rarely getting into the visitor’s 22m area. It took 25 minutes before Jaguars scored the first points with a penalty after a ruck infringement. Quins hit back quickly when Van Zyl Koch broke blindside from a scrum and captain JP Roetz put winger Lloyd Myeni away in the corner.
No further points were scored in the half and Quins had a well-deserved 5-3 lead.
The second half was pretty much the same as the Quins forwards kept the home team busy. Centre Levi Swartz crossed the try line to extend the lead, but Jeffery Ackerman was wide with his conversion attempt. Jaguars responded with a try of their own shortly after to narrow the gap to 10-8. With the game there for the taking, the last 20 minutes was going to prove a tense affair.
Jeffery Ackerman slotted a penalty to extend the Quins lead with 10 minutes to go, but unfortunately Jaguars found a way through Quins defense and the conversion gave them a 15-13 lead with five minutes to go. The Quins boys gave it their all but sadly didn’t find a way through to clinch the game. Man of the match awards went to hooker Patrick Nolan and captain JP Roetz.
The clash between the first teams started as expected when the home team tried to set the pace and run the visitors off their feet. They were rewarded for the enterprising play and scored their opening try in the sixth minute. Jaguars continued to set the pace and scored their second try in the 23rd minute to take a 10-0 lead. Quins however struck back with a penalty on the stroke of halftime to cut the lead to 10-3.
The concern for the visiting Quins boys was that they lost both winger Carl Donovan and flyhalf Willie Spies to injuries before the break. Shortly after the break, fullback Rouche Kleynhans also limped off with injury and lock Shaldon Lourens followed him with a shoulder injury. Things got worse when Jaguars capitalised on the visitors’ misfortune and scored their third try in the 56th minute.
Replacement scrumhalf JP Roetz gave Quins some hope when he forced his way over from a tight situation after sustained pressure by the Mighty Quins. The score lifted the visitors and they were increasing the pressure on the home side. With Quins pushing hard for their next try, Jaguars scored a trademark long range try after a mistake to take the wind from the visitors’ sails. Instead of 15 all, the score meant the home side got their bonus point and put the game beyond the visitors at 20-8.
Jaguars scored another in the 72nd minute to rub salt into the wounds of the Mighty Quins. A defeat of 25-8 and back to the drawing board with a tough week coming up for the medical team. Man of the match awards went to 8th man Barend Schoeman and scrumhalf JP Rudman.
Note the change to the next match. The fixture will be another away match at Westville Old Boys on Friday evening due to the new loadshedding schedule on the Bluff. Matches kick off at 6.30pm and 8pm.
