Quins hit back to gain an impressive Cup victory
A glance at the match stats for the first forty minutes, would have shown the figures overwhelmingly in favour of the Wanderers.
Early on, Alfie Llewellyn broke through. Scrambling to stop further phase play momentum, the hosts stepped offside and a Paul Short penalty gave the Wanderers an early three points lead.
A Jakob Williams charge down nearly bore fruit. The scrum-half and former Wanderer Harry MorganGrant interplayed. Williams was dragged down on the line, but the Quins transgressed and were penalised.
Wanderers were penalised for retaliation, McGuckin levelled the scores with a forty yards penalty.
The visitors dominated possession and territory for the next twenty minutes. During this period, the Quins were reduced to twelve due to indiscipline.
Two penalties were even reversed due to this lack of maturity, yet still the Wanderers couldn’t take advantage of an outstandingly fierce Quins defence.
Lineouts were disrupted, knockons forced, scrums held out and the Quins’ tackling was something else, denying the visitors a single score while the manpower was temporarily decreased.
A tremendous home driving maul went thirty yards put enough pressure on the Wanders to glean another forty yards penalty for McGuckin to convert.
Lewis Evans put in huge, pressure relieving clearance kicks. From one almighty hoof from one twenty-five to the other, a high tackle on Kieran Watkins gave McGuckin his third successful kick at goal.
Keeping the scoreboard ticking, the Quins were getting into the danger zone and coming away with something. When Nathan Ace was dragged down at a line-out, an angled kick was McGuckin’s fourth successful effort, bang on half-time.
In the second half the Quins continuity play improved. Williams, McGuckin and Evans were now working in unison to probe and prod at the Wanderers, varying the play well. Former Wanderer Harry Morgan-Grant and Kieran Watkins were given a few runs as the passing improved and the ball was spread wider.
Yet still a scoring hiatus continued until the final quarter when the visitors enjoyed another, albeit brief, period of dominance.
Facing of a giant line-out presence, Quins’ display was absolutely superb. Rhydian Jenkins’ throwing in was impeccable. It remained so even when Jenkins was replaced. Ace, Healy and Aled Evans were on top form and even stole ball on the opposition throw.
Steve Williams’ presence ensured the Wanderers were unable to breach the Quins defensive close to the breakdown and they were choked in midfield too, with Lee Ronan taking the leading role. An accurate Short cross-kick could not be gathered and Tom Richards pounced to score in the corner.
The former’s conversion was good and now the visitors were within two points of their hosts.
Wanderers didn’t deal with the restart and the Quins pounced. In the face of a close-quarter blitz defence tackler, if McGuckin had wrapped his digits around the ball, a tackle would have ended the movement. What followed was a moment of mercurial McGuckin magic.
The out-half who had put the boot in to the opposition used the palms of his hands to beat the defender, by flicking the ball to awaiting Ryan Jones and put the replacement backrower into an opening.
In a match of few chances, this instant was capitalised on to the full. Bursting into the gap, Jones cut inside one covering defender, then another. With on defender to beat, the number eight crashed through and over the line. In a mixture of relief at putting seven points between them and the Wanderers, admiration of a wonderful score and the joy shared by a tightknit team, Jones was mobbed. McGuckin maintained his 100% kicking record and the Wanderers now had to score twice.
Undeterred, the Cardiff suburbanites set about their task. Their most potent attack was halted by a ‘stop then at all costs’ defence that epitomised the Quins’ uncompromising mindset.
Having got behind the Quins defenders, Wanderers outnumbered their hosts. Despite this, Rhys Costain and Jakob Williams fought like tigers to close-down the attackers and put them over the touchline.
Further distance was put between the teams, when McGuckin goaled a penalty for a seventeen-points match haul.
Hard fought victories are always the most memorable. The tangible delight was there for all to witness in this win against one of Welsh rugby’s grand old clubs.
Ultimately there was an answer to the Quins half-time lead and final victory conundrum. A defence that refused to yield, in which everyone played their part. Taking chances. Finally, and most influentially, a group of players who are so tightly committed to each other they seem welded together.