VRU Round 11 – Quins return to Winning Ways

Two tries to Joe Masalu were not enough to stop Harlequins returning to winning form with a 34- 19 win over Footscray on Saturday afternoon.

Footscray started strongly punching plenty of big forwards down the channel to test the defence of fly half Kemu Valentini. A string of poor line outs, conceding three of their own in ten minutes,  meant they were without the ball for extended periods of time and only sloppy execution kept the visitors from getting on the scoreboard. 

Harlequins squandered numerous chances before conceding the first try on the stroke of half time. Bulldogs’ rake Siosua Ngauamo made the break through the centre of the field before feeding Masalu who touched down to the right of the sticks. Martin Nauhafu made it 7-0 with the conversion and Quins went into the break rueing missed opportunities

Harlequins came out strongly after the break and skipped to a 12-7 lead by the 50^th minute courtesy of tries to Larry Manu and Lloyd Johansson. Former Wallaby and Rebel, Johansson, on in the second half at No 10, provided fast accurate service allowing the visitors to gain momentum and field position. The added impetus exposed gaps in Footscray’s defence down the left side and Quins exploited the holes to maximum effect scoring a further two tries on the flanks; the first to Justin Tavea, and the second a precisely worked set piece that saw the ball go through the hands of Johannsson, Valentini and on to custodian Justin Marsters, whose pace and straight running put Manu over in the corner to make the score 27-7 and effectively kill the game as a contest.

Late consolations tries to Joe Masula and the deserving halfback Keisuke Yamada gave some respectability to the scoreline for the Bulldogs, before Quins flanker Jack De Guingand crossed for the final try of the match off the back of a rolling maul. Coach Ruhan Van Zyl must have been satisfied with the second half outing for the visitors, which sees them bounce back to winning ways after their Harold Mitchell Cup loss in the Rebel’s recent curtain raiser against Lions.

In other fixtures, Melbourne Uni travelled to Moorabbin and copped an absolute belting, going down 74-10. Box Hill fought hard but went fell to a 10th consecutive defeat, going down at home 20-38 to Melbourne. Southern Districts accounted for Endeavour Hills 48-13.

Next week sees Melbourne hosting Moorabbin in the game of the round, while Uni hosts Souths, power House travel to Endeavour Hills, and top plays bottom at Harlequins as Box hill search for their first win of the season.

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