In a powerful display at Shoalhaven Rugby Park, Campbelltown Harlequins showed that they are the team to beat this season, reports ANDREW CHOICE.
Running in six tries in a 38-17 victory over last year’s Illawarra rugby premiership premiers, the Quinnies gave the strongest hint yet they want that crown for themselves.
Harlequin opened the scoring after just 10 minutes with a 75m team try to centre Faiva Faiva to lead 7-0, and were never headed.
Campbelltown pushed the score out to 14-0 before an from the back gave the home side possession and opportunity to score out wide to pull the score back to 14-5 with 10 minutes to go before half time.
From the restart Quins applied pressure to Shoalhaven and were rewarded with a scrum five metres from the try line.
The big Harlequin scrum did not waste the opportunity and pushed Shoalhaven over to lead 19-5 at half time.
Second half was more of the same, with Campbelltown adding another four tries to their tally, extending their lead to 38-5 with seven minutes to go.
A tired Harlequin team let in two late tries to Shoalhaven to leave a final score of 38-17, which flattered the hosts
For Harlequin this was a major step toward the minor premiership as a win against bottom of the table Uni in the last round will secure that title.
With three tries centre Faiva Faiva was the man of the match, however a number of Harlequins could have laid claim to that honor as all players across the field contributed to the win.
The team performance was impressive with the Quins big forward pack working as a unit to deny Shoalhaven any leeway at the breakdown.
Despite their lineout showing some deficiencies early, their set piece scrum was clearly dominant throughout. This platform allowed the talented back line to prosper, scoring five of the six Harlequins tries.
The win leaves Harlequin on top of the competition table with two rounds to go.
Campbelltown 38 (Faiva Faiva 3 tries, Hector Tapueluelu 1 try, Elijah Sa 1 try, Benjamin Faavae 1 try, Zachary Tuala 3 goals.) defeated Shoalhaven 17 (Callum Geange 1 try, Steven Brandon 1 try, Matorino Atunaisa 1 try, Kieran Brandon 1 goal.)
IDRU ROUND 16 RESULTS – FIRST GRADE
Kiama 27 Defeated Vikings 17
University 22 Defeated Shamrocks 7
Campbelltown Harlequins 38 Defeated Shoalhaven 17
Bye Bowral, Camden
LADDER: Campbelltown 57, Kiama 49, Shoalhaven 45, Bowral 36, Camden 32, Vikings 28, Shamrocks 12, University 9.
SECOND GRADE:
Kiama 36 Defeated Vikings 5
Shamrocks 52 Defeated University 7
Shoalhaven defeated Campbelltown Harlequins by forfeit
Tech Waratahs 24 Defeated Bowral 20
Bye Camden