London Irish v NEC Harlequins.

[browner]

"A Good Run Out!"
NEC Harlequins 14 London Irish 28
"A good run out" was how Director of Rugby Brian Smith described Friday night's performance at the Twickenham Stoop as London Irish defeated old rivals, NEC Harlequins by four converted tries to two in the first of the Exiles' pre-season friendlies..

"We used 35 players in two different teams and both sides acquited themselves well," added Smith, "Both scored two well constructed tries each in an encouraging overall performance."

The game was played in perfect conditions in three thirty minute sections. Irish's starting line-up played the first 45 minutes with the second taking over for the second section.

In a lively opening twenty minutes both teams tried to establish some rhythm after the summer break. Inevitably, the handling and passing was not as sharp as it will be as players grow used to playing in real match situations once again.

The Exiles starting XV included three of the summer signings Olivier Magne, Dominic Feau'nati and Ben Willis. All three had encouraging debuts with Magne catching the eye because of his creative play and desire for the ball.

Irish were first to score through a well worked try. Willis fed Barry Everitt from a scrum on the right. Everitt chipped the ball cross field for Justin Bishop to take the catch and race in to score in the left corner. Everitt added a superb conversion kick from just inside the touchline.

Andrew Merethens made his debut for the home side at the start of the second period and immediately began to have an impact on the game. He scored his first points for his new team in the 36th minute when he converted a scrambled try that was touched down by Mike Brown.

Just three minutes later the All Black showed all of his alertness when he outwitted Delon Armitage to collect a kick ahead and race in to score Quins' second try which he converted to give his side a 14-7 lead.

The lead proved short-lived as Irish counter-attacked from the re-start driving at the heart of the Quins' defence. First Neal Hatley probed on the right of midfield, then Dominic Feau'nati used his strong physique to draw in two defenders before slipping the ball to Delon Armitage. He passed to Kieron Dawson who scored out on the left. Everitt added the conversion to level the scores.

The Exiles replaced all 15 players on 45 minutes with a team led by Ryan Strudwick that featued a blend of Academy players, new signings and experienced professionals. There was much interest in the debuts of prop Michael Collins and No 8, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, both made a good impression. Of the younger players on show Ross Laidlaw and Shane Geraghty caught the eye at fly half and inside centre.

Laidlaw took a delightful inside pass from Geraghty to restore Irish's lead in the 65th minute when he touched down behind the posts. He added the conversion and was able to kick another three minutes later folowing a well constructed try by Decaln Danaher.

Leading 28-14 Irish had to endure a difficult ten minutes of intense pressure from the home side. Try as they did Quins could find no way through a determined defence. The only time they crossed the line prop Doug Wheatley positioned himself between ball and ground to prevent the try.

It was Irish that continued to take the game to the home team as the clock wound down and referee Chris White blew for full time.

Scorers: NEC Harlequins: Tries: Brown (36min), Merthens (39); conversions: Merthens 2. London Irish: Tries: Bishop (26), Dawson (41), Laidlaw (65), Danaher (68).

Scoring sequence: 0-7, 7-7, 14-7, 14-14, 14-21, 14-28.

Referee: Mr C White (RFU)