The Campbelltown Harlequins’ sensational undefeated streak came to a heartbreaking end over the weekend, as they suffered a gritty 19-15 reality check at the hands of the reigning premiers, reports rugby correspondent ANDREW CHOICE from Kiama.
Starved of a few key personnel, the Quins’ depth was tested from the opening whistle.
A disjointed first half saw the visitors struggle for rhythm, allowing a ruthless Kiama outfit to score 19 unanswered points before the break.
Whatever was said in the sheds at halftime worked wonders: Quins emerged for the second stanza a completely transformed beast, playing constructive, high-octane rugby to completely dominate the territory and possession.
Mounting a courageous comeback, Harlequins clawed back 15 unanswered points of their own.
In a grandstand finish, the Quins were agonizingly denied what would have been a match-winning try late in the piece due to a controversial disallowed try.
Despite the heartbreak, head coach Tupu Natapu remained immensely proud of his side’s resolve.
“It was a real test of our depth today,’’ Natapu lamented post-match.
“Despite not getting the competition points, we passed the test with flying colors in that second half.’’
As is always the case with player unavailability, it was the Reserve Grade that bore the brunt of the reshuffle.
In a match that eerily mirrored the First Grade script, a disjointed Quins outfit leaked 24 early points in the first half following a string of basic unforced errors.
Showing the true Harlequin spirit, the boys came home with a wet sail in the second stanza.
Turning the screws on the competition leaders, they piled on 14 unanswered points, but the mountain left to climb from the first half proved just too steep, losing 24-14.
The Harlequins men’s teams return to the friendly confines of Campbelltown Showground for a massive top-of-the-table blockbuster against Shoalhaven this Saturday.
With major premiership implications on the line for both grades, it promises to be a spectacular afternoon of local rugby.
Kick-off is 1.30 for reserve Grade, and 3pm in First Grade.
Over in the Sydney Rugby Division 2 competition, the Harlequins Women continue to look absolutely untouchable.
Making the arduous trek to Woolahra Oval to face Eastern Suburbs, the Quins put on a masterclass in clinical rugby, dismantling the hosts in a staggering 52-0 shutout.
This marks their fifth consecutive victory on the trot.
With a crucial game in hand, the Harlequins now sit proudly at the absolute summit of the ladder, sharing the view with Randwick, whom they are scheduled to meet in a mouth-watering clash in a fortnight’s time. They just keep on keeping on!
As we rapidly approach the midpoint of the junior season, the Harlequins’ conveyor belt of young talent is firing on all cylinders. The club is flying high across every single age bracket.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the future stars of the game, the entire junior contingent will be playing at home this Sunday.