Cardiff Harlequins 20 – 2 Brighton Panthers
SEMLA Intermediate Flags, Round 1
28th November 2009
On a rain-soaked night in Cardiff, just a few of hundred yards from the Millennium Stadium where Wales were being dismantled by Australia, Harlequins took another stride towards a hat-trick of Flags titles with a 20-2 demolition of Brighton. The visitors lead the East division, and were well-fancied before the game with several lacrosse watchers predicting an away win. Cardiff however, had other ideas and stamped their authority all over the game, dominating in every area of the floodlit field and playing with the clinical incisiveness required of a team with Premiership ambitions.
Despite the weather, Harlequins exploded into the lead inside 5 seconds; Chris Lee winning the face off before pushing the ball forward along the all-weather surface to Alan Croft who finished without hesitation from 12 yards. James Tiley got his name on the scoresheet shortly afterwards, and the horse had well and truly bolted for Brighton. Cardiff rampaged forward, with Lee and Tiley utterly dominant at the face-off X and an attacking trio full of vision and vigour. Despite the host’s small squad, they played the game at an electric pace and Rhodri Stanford added a first quarter hat-trick before Will Barrett finished off a fast break to give the hosts a 6-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The second period saw increased possession for the visitors, but they struggled to make any inroads against a defensive line which defined controlled aggression. With Nathan Harding the only regular long stick, it would have been excusable if Quins’ backline was operating below par, but the makeshift trio were impervious and obdurate. In midfield, the work rate of Cardiff’s centres was relentless, asserting their authority on ground balls and regularly beating their opponents to both ends of the field, providing several fast break goals for the hosts, and denying any opportunity for Brighton to capitalise on their slightly larger squad. A second quarter hat-trick from stand-in captain Croft, a brace from Stanford and a fine finish from Rory Peters doubled Cardiff’s lead by the half time whistle and there was little doubt over which was the happier side at the break.
With just three substitutes between the two sides and conditions which were at times torrential, it was perhaps understandable that the pace of the game eased during the third period. Cardiff were content to play at a more leisurely tempo, and continued to extend their lead through Barrett, Lee and Tiley, and Harlequins could have had more but for some brave goalkeeping from the visitors. At the other end, Brighton managed to get themselves on the scoresheet with a sweeping drive that attacked the weak side and exploited a momentary lapse in communication by the home defence. Cardiff started the final quarter with a 15-1 lead but this is a Harlequins side which has pushed complacency out of their vocabulary, and they returned to the high speed, high intensity campaign which blew their opposition away in the first half. Barrett completed his hat-trick with a tight finish on a man-up play, and four more goals followed for the hosts as they slapped the gloss onto a devastating display. A late consolation for Brighton lifted the visitor’s spirits somewhat, and provided some reward for their toil but the gulf in class was evident from the opening seconds.
With this result, Harlequins remain on course for their third Flags title in as many years but perhaps more pleasing to their supporters and absent skipper, was the positivity and camaraderie which reverberated throughout the side. They will face tougher opposition as they continue their progression towards that treble, but the foundations look to have been firmly laid and, on this evidence, the construction of a Premiership side is well under way.
