Trowbridge beaten on first visit to Oxford Quins

Trowbridge first ever visit to Harlequins Marston Ferry Road ground ended in defeat for the visitors, Trowbridge forced into making nine changes from the previous weeks win at home to Reading were faced with real selection problems to be able to play this fixture due to injury and availability, this gave new signing Henry Turner, and second team James Marwick, George Cope on his return from Australia and Olli Weaver a chance to impress and impress they all did. Harlequins kicked off into a strong wind making it very difficult to secure the ball and allowing the home teams big pack to force Trowbridge back over their own line to score a try in the opening moments, but the blustery conditions made the conversion very difficult, Sam Watkinson missing wide of the posts. The visitors were given a penalty Lloyd Davis slotting the goal reducing the lead by five points to three (5-3).The visitors then took the lead for the first and only time in the game this came from a thirty metre brake from Ashley Chalk linking up with Lloyd Davis who was driven over the line by the pack to score but again the conversion was missed making the score five points to eight (5-8). Quins were next to score again through their big pack driving their prop Pete Boulton over the line, Sam Watkinson adding the extra two points (12-8). The home side repeated this successful move just before the interval. This time the visitors lost Dan Phillips to the bin accused of bringing the maul down and from the resulting scrum allowed Quins scrum half Jack Avery to score, Sam Watkinson kicking the conversion to end the half nineteen points to eight (19-8).Trowbridge kicked off to start the second half, and it was not long before they were back to full strength Dan Phillips returning to the number two slot, Quins number three was next to fall fowl of the referee Mr Walker sent to the bin for blocking. The visitors started to put some good passages of play together only to be pinned back again by an intercepted try from centre Jack Crow and two points from Sam Watkinson (26-8). Again Trowbridge went on the attack putting Quins under pressure and were rewarded with a good try from Lee Fairclough. The conversion was missed bringing the score to 26-13, again Quins used their big pack to a drive forward, this sucked the Trowbridge defence in leaving them exposed out wide and allowing Quins to run in two more tries, one from winger Alex Kelly and another from Sam Watkinson. Both conversation were missed to end the game 36-13. Next week we host Towcestrians who are currently in 2nd place, so another big game before the Christmas break