Moorabbin snatch draw at Quins

The top of the table clash between Harlequins and Moorabbin lived up to expectation with a tense 19-19 draw at Ashwood Reserve on Saturday.

With two rounds of the competition remaining Harlequins went into the clash with a slender lead at the top of the table. Moorabbin were coming off the back of an emphatic 42-19 win over Power House in Round 16.

Moorabbin had the first chance to score points with a penalty in the second minute. The penalty from fly half Sasulu slid wide. The Rams didn’t have to wait too long to open the scoring however, with Rebel James King crossing out wide after Quins ran out of numbers on the right. The conversion was unsuccessful and the visitors had a 5-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

The Rams continued to pile on the pressure with an in-form back line running the ball wide at every opportunity. Some errant kicking on a very windy Melbourne afternoon managed to see Harlequins finally get some field position after a quarter of an hour. The home side went ahead through Sione Taufa after a series of forward charges.

Moorabbin were the dominant side in the first half however and thought they were back in front just two minutes later after Filli Leatu broke off the scrum only to be called back for offside. The visitors pushed for a second try, ignoring kicks at goal and looking for touch. While they were not immediately rewarded the eventual pressure on the home side was too much and Lualua Vailoaloa split the Quins line, feeding Ioane Perenise who crossed over next to the sticks and gave Moorabbin a 12-7 lead at half time.

Harlequins came out in the second half determined to hang on to the competition lead they had held all season. They too ignored kickable penalties and pressed on for a five pointer. Dominating possession and field position Harlequins were unable to get across the line despite spending almost a quarter of an hour camped in the opposition quarter. Ill discipline saw the visitors down to fourteen men and sustained pressure and the extra man told with Jack De Guigand crossing out wide. Replacement Lloyd Johannson converted from out wide and Harlequins had the lead and their tail up. Just four minutes later Quins’ fullback Justin Marsters extended the lead breaking down the right and extending the lead to 19-12.

The Rams were not finished yet though and after series of drives and Quins looking to play down the clock, Joe Kamana broke two tackles offloaded and was in support to take the final pass and take the scores to 19-17. Sasulu stepped up and slotted the kick from ten metres in from touch.

Around the grounds

In other matches, Footscray pipped University 28-27, Southern Districts romped home 74-0 against Box Hill and Power House managed to get a valuable bonus point in a 26-19 defeat to Melbourne.

In the final round of the Dewar Shield, Power House must beat Uni to stand a chance of appearing in the finals. Southern Districts sit in fifth but travel to Melbourne and will need a big win if Power House are successful at home. Moorabbin host Footscray, who will be hoping for at least one bonus point to secure a spot in the finals. Melbourne host Endeavour Hills.use managed to get a valuable bonus point in a 26-19 defeat to Melbourne.

In the final round, Power House must beat Uni to stand a chance of appearing in the finals. Southern Districts sit in fifth but travel to Melbourne and will need a big win if Power House are successful at home. Moorabbin host Footscray, who will be hoping for at least one bonus point to secure a spot in the finals. Harlequins host Endeavour Hills.

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