Fixture

Injuries are a never-ending feature of Beddau`s season and, already operating with on-loan tighthead Harry Olden, bench replacement Chris Robinson withdrew before kick-off leading to a late SOS being answered by Jason Ronan which gave the veteran his 10^th appearance for the club and all long beyond his 40^th birthday.

It was a mixed pot of a game with the Quins largely dominant up front where Beddau never gave up the fight.  Beddau`s efforts to expose the lack of pace in home ranks were unstitched by a number of unforced errors that coughed up far too much possession.  An early lineout was an indicator that the best that may be expected from an inconsistent referee was parity.  In that area at least he didn`t disappoint and both sides were able to point to decisions that led to some scratching of heads.

The opening Quins try came on the back of a mighty scrum that drove ominously.  The ball initially shot beyond the control of the Number 8 but a reset was ordered and the control, this time, was immaculate.  The conversion made it 7-0.

Quins were able to keep the ball at close quarters but when Beddau were able to make inroads they looked capable of creating a score.  One duly arrived when some approach work by Adam Ashford and a short pass from Morgan Davies gave the powerful Sam Edwards a gap that he drove through for Morgan Davies to convert.  When Beddau next visited Quins territory it was Edwards again who pierced the defence to be called back for crossing.

Shortly after when Quins were clearing at a ruck a strong tackle from Beddau flanker Sol Khan seemed to have attracted the referee`s interest.  He engaged in a dialogue with captain Jordan Goodwin before deciding the card, for a no-arms hit, was to go to Harry Olden.

A driving surge up front then drove Beddau back and some continuous control saw the Quins pack reach the line for a well-worked converted try to make it 14-7 at the interval.

The grey blanket that hung over proceedings hadn`t made the second half less gloomy but little could really excuse the referee`s failure to pick up an assault on Beddau scrum half David Francis nor the late tackle that prevented James Davies following his kick along the line.  As things went it was Quins now living off crumbs but the callow heads in Beddau`s ranks told when an ambitious attempt to run from deep was brought to an end.  A relieving kick was part-charged with the ricochet bouncing kindly for a soft Quins score.

Ah! Well.  They`ll learn from that!  No; it was another attempt to counter from a deeply unpromising spot that saw the ball go to earth and provide an easy kick-on and score to end matters at 24-7.

Quins were good value for the win but the bonus point try was a little flattering.  From Beddau`s point of view the character shown in a sea of adversity will have provided some satisfaction.  Results, though, are not good.