The Campbelltown Harlequins have maintained their buffer at the top of a highly congested ladder following a ruthless 75-19 defeat of the last-placed Tech Tahs at the Showground.
Coming off a challenging fortnight plagued by injuries and player unavailability – which resulted in just their second defeat of the season – this clinical performance was a welcome return to form on home soil.
The hosts set the tone from the opening whistle, stringing together multiple phases to cross the line within the first five minutes.
They immediately backed it up off the ensuing restart, capitalising on momentum to secure their second five-pointer in quick succession.
A momentary lapse in discipline gifted Tech prime field position, which the visitors eagerly converted into points to trail by just five.
However, that minor hiccup only served to spark the Harlequins into overdrive.
From that point forward, the Quins completely dominated the breakdown and the forward contest, laying a platform that allowed their talented outside backs to run riot.
To their credit, Tech never stopped fighting and actually claimed the final try of the afternoon, but the damage had long been done, leaving the final scoreline at a commanding 75-19.
The competition leaders head into a timely bye next week before hitting the road to face 3rd placed Kiama, followed by a blockbuster home clash against Camden.
This crucial three-week block will heavily dictate their minor premiership aspirations.
In reserve grade, the Harlequins kept their finals campaign breathing with a scrappy but hard-fought 38-26 victory over a determined Tech outfit.
The Quins may have entered the fixture expecting a comfortable afternoon, but the visitors didn’t read the script.
An enthusiastic Tech side fought tooth and nail, deservingly heading into the halftime break with the lead.
The Quins were often their own worst enemies in the opening stanza, squandering several golden point-scoring opportunities.
Thankfully, a spirited second-half rally saw them steady the ship, ultimately securing both the win and a vital four-try bonus point.
Much like first grade, the next three weeks will define the second grade season, featuring clashes against the top two ranked teams in the competition.
The gauntlet begins this Saturday when they host powerhouse Avondale.
It was a tough road trip for the Women’s side, who travelled to the Eastern Suburbs over the weekend to lock horns with Randwick.
Despite leading the competition for much of the season, the Lady Quins are currently navigating a severe injury crisis.
Coming up against a formidable second-placed Randwick side, the depleted Quins side faced an uphill battle from the outset.
The resulting defeat marks only their second loss of the season, causing them to slide down into second place on the ladder.
While the run home will test their depth, a string of upcoming home fixtures should see the girls finish the regular season with a wet sail.
Due to the split rounds and byes, there is only one local match scheduled for the club this weekend: Harlequins second grade hosting Avondale at the Showground this Saturday.
- ANDREW CHOICE
