Harlequins won an absolute thriller against Vikings 38-33 on Saturday at Campbelltown Showground, but as usual they took the long and winding road to get there, reports our rugby correspondent ANDREW CHOICE.
Harlequins got out of the blocks early to take the lead 5-0 with a great try to their giant number six Peni Tuitupou.
However, in what is a continuing trend, the home side relaxed, allowing the Viking to respond immediately with a converted try to grab the lead 7-5.
Harlequins clawed back the lead with a try that resulted off the back of scrum penalties, and when the first quarter of the game was completed they were ahead 12-7.
But the feisty Viking weren’t going anywhere and hit back with not one but two converted tries to lead 21-12.
This was followed by a rampaging run by Harlequin Peni Tuitupou that resulted in a try to the home side, reducing the deficit to four points.
A second try to the Harlequins soon after helped them regain the lead at 24-21.
On the stroke of halftime, Harlequin discipline let them down again, and with two players in the bin Vikings took full advantage, scoring a try to regain the lead at 26-24.
The teams trundled off for the break having set up a great second half, which is exactly what transpired.
From the opening whistle of the second half, the under manned Harlequins piled on the pressure on the Vikings.
They scored a try off some very good, highly skilled passages of play to quickly take the lead 31-26.
In a repeat of what happened early in the first half, the home side then took the foot off the accelerator and the Vikings pounced.
The visitors charged down a clearance kick and scored to lead 33-31 with 23 minutes to go.
Mayhem is probably the best word to employ to describe what happened next.
With 12 minutes to go a typical Harlequins back line movement saw centre Zac Tuala score, which was then converted for 38-33 in favour of the home side.
This was the final score, but not before the Vikings launched attacking raid after raid in a final effort to wrest victory from the Harlequins.
Thanks to some willing and committed defence, the Quins were able to hold on and win a brilliant game of rugby.
Their reward was to see themselves at the very top of the Illawarra Rugby premiership ladder.
Second grade made it a clean sweep for Harlequins after winning 39-21. Despite their slow start to the season, the win over the Vikings puts Harlequin just outside the top 4.
Next week the boys go to Kiama for a top of the table clash. The girls are away to Eastern Suburbs, who they beat in the first round.
Both teams are home on July 19 for back to Campbelltown day and an appointment with Camden, the only team to beat the Harlequins men’s first grade this season.
In other news, rising Harlequins star Glassie Glassie has been selected in the NSW Under 18s (open boys) that will contest the Rugby Australia national tournament on the Sunshine Coast. From this tournament hopefully Australian selection is just around the corner for Glassie.
IDR ROUND 11 RESULTS – FIRST GRADE:
Shoalhaven 22 Defeated Bowral 5
Camden 36 Defeated University 24
Campbelltown Harlequins 38 Defeated Vikings 33
Shamrocks and Kiama, bye
SECOND GRADE:
Shoalhaven 38 Defeated Bowral
Camden 27 Defeated University 10
Campbelltown Harlequins 39 Defeated Vikings 21
Shamrocks 38 Defeated Tech Waratahs 0
Kiama, bye