Cranleigh v Harlequin Amateurs 22/3/2025 Result 26-47

Referee Nick Harper London Society

Harlequin Amateurs arrived at Wildwood Lane having recently recruited seven Fijians from the Coldstream Guards -all backs who have transformed Harlequins season. Cranleigh felt their presence from the start when they found gaps in the Cranleigh defense and scored within 5 minutes out wide. Cranleigh looked shell-shocked and was slow to get into the game, only to find they conceded another try 10 minutes later, which was converted. After 18 minutes, the Cranleigh pack decided to take on the Harlequins pack and were dominant in the scrums and lineouts, driving on every occasion, and were rewarded with a try by Pierre Goodwin, well converted by Ollie Middleton. Harlequins centers again pounced on a mistake and outpaced Cranleigh to score. Until then, Cranleigh’s body language had looked poor, but Steve Dandy finished a decent move to put some life into the side with Ollie Middleton converting well out wide. 12-19. Harlequin’s backs then took back control by jumping on two handling mistakes and scoring twice, both converted.Half time 12-33.Cranleigh realized they could only reduce the deficit in the second half if they kept control in the forwards. The Harlequin’s scrum half and his backs, well-versed in sevens moves, would punish any mistakes.Cranleigh kept Harlequins in their half and reduced the deficit with an expert drive and conversion.19-33 ..From a lost lineout, Harlequins no 12 outpaced the Cranleigh defense and scored under the post. They then pounced on a dropped pass to score and convert again, 19-47. To their credit, the Cranleigh pack hit back, and at last, the Harlequins side looked tired. Cranleigh took advantage with a superb maul finished with a try by Tom Tetley /converted .26-47.It was a good game for a neutral spectator to watch, and these Harlequins backs would cause trouble for any side in our league. Cranleigh Pack worked extremely hard and did not warrant the scoreline. Ollie Middleton’s conversions were outstanding. There is definitely a determination to finish the league campaign in two weeks against Reigate on a high.Hopefully, the Harlequins Coldstream Guards will be busy elsewhere away from Wildwood Lane next season.

Report John Bailey

Counties 4 Surrey Results 22/3/25

Cranleigh 26- 47 Harlequin Amateurs

London French 25-26 Reigate

Old Freemans 17-38 Old Emanuel

Old Glynonians 29-14 Haslemere

Southwark Lancers 67-19 Old Paulines