The planets aligned on the weekend for Harlequins, Campbelltown’s great rugby club, with the women’s side winning their Sydney Division 1 Plate grand final, while the men are now just one game away from playing in the grand final. Rugby correspondent ANDREW CHOICE reports:
After the first round of the Sydney first division women’s rugby competition, the Harlequins coaches and players were disappointed to be graded in the tier two or Plate competition for round two.
On Saturday, after an unbeaten run in the Plate competition and semi final, that disappointment was put to bed with the Harlequin ladies winning the plate grand final.
The girls were always in control in their 43-17 win over Gordon at Sydney University.
The Quins started well and got out to a 17-0 lead at half time, however Gordon kept coming at them.
But with every point that Gordon scored Quins responded and eventually put the matter beyond doubt to record a convincing win.
This was Harlequins’ first year back in the Sydney Division 1 competition after a six year break.
“It’s a great competition and opportunity for the girls,” said coach Donny Nepia after the Harlequins grand final triumph.
“The girls have had a great year; the camaraderie and support of each other has been great.
“It really is a great opportunity for the girls whose next step for representative honours are NSW and Australia if good enough,’’ Nepia said.
The Harlequins players in the women’s side don’t have far to look for inspiration: teammates Atasi Lafai and Sally Fuesaina had little time to celebrate Sunday’s victory.
That’s because both have been selected in the Wallaroos tour of Ireland and South Africa and will go into camp on Sunday.
The pair, pictured, leave for the four week tour on September 25.
“Well done and thank you for the way you represent Harlequins and Campbelltown on the national and international stage,’’ a club spokesperson said.
And now to the Harlequin men’s first grade side, which has progressed through to the qualifying final of the Illawarra first grade Rugby competition after their 45-7 semi final win over Camden on Sunday.
Despite having all the field position, Quins squandered multiple opportunities to go to the half time break leading by just 15-0.
However, Harlequins came out in the second half intent on putting Camden out of the game.
Consistent pressure saw Harlequins take two penalty goals in the first 10 minutes to push the margin out to 21 points.
Thirteen minutes later Harlequins scored again through rampaging loose forward Peni Tuitupou to take the score to 28-0.
With the issue now seemingly beyond doubt, Campbelltown started to throw the ball around – only to leak a try and give Camden some hope at 28-7.
But the Quins responded by quickly getting back into their structures to go on and bag two more tries.
It was a great day for Harlequins scoring six tries in a semi final win over their neighbours, however their next assignment will be tougher.
This Harlequins will take on Kiama in the qualifying final, with the winner to face Shoalhaven in the big one a week later.
