Chris Robshaw: Harlequins' defeat of Leicester proved people wrongReported by Metro.co.uk on Saturday, 26 May 2012 (on May 26, 2012)
|
*Harlequins should finally get the credit they deserve after beating Leicester Tigers 30-23 in the Aviva Premiership final, according to captain Chris Robshaw.*
The London club topped the regular season table, but their critics claimed they had only achieved the feat because other teams had star players away at the Rugby World Cup in the early part of the campaign.
Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown and George Robson celebrate Harlequins' success (PA)
Quins showed they were a match for anyone in the Twickenham final, as tries from Tom Williams and Robshaw helped to ensure they were crowned Premiership champions.
Robshaw, who was named man of the match, said: 'Some people wrote us off and said we're only there because of the World Cup. We've proved them wrong.
'It is so surreal. We owe a lot of it to the fans. It's so nice to repay them.'
The triumph represents a remarkable turnaround for Quins, as it came just three years after the club's reputation was tarnished by the Bloodgate scandal.
Nick Evans, who kicked 20 points, predicted the success would be the beginning of a new chapter for the club, which would see the controversies of the Dean Richards era forgotten.
'I hope it is. If we stay together as a team then I'm sure we'll get a lot more wins and a lot more trophies, hopefully,' said the former All Black.
Quins raced into an early lead against Leicester, as Evans slotted a penalty and Williams rounded off a brilliant move by crossing for a try.
George Ford landed a pair of penalties, either side of another successful kick from Evans, before Tigers surged into the lead when Steve Mafi sprinted from halfway to score.
Evans fired over his third penalty on the stroke of half-time to give Quins a 14-13 interval lead, before adding two more to extend their advantage early in the second half.
Quins then seized control when Joe Gray and Jordan Turner-Hall combined to send Robshaw crashing over for a try. Evans added the conversion and a further penalty to make it 30-13 with 22 minutes to go.
Tigers fought back strongly and Ben Youngs created a try for Ford, who kicked the extras and then landed a penalty to put them within a score of Quins, but the London side clung on to secure the victory.
Links:  Full news story
|
|
|
| Recent related news |
| |
guardian.co.uk
21 hours ago | Dimon won his battle with shareholders and remains CEO and chairman, but his ego is masking problems... |
This is
1 day ago | This is Hull and East Riding -- Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life... |
guardian.co.uk
2 days ago | Six talking points, including Middlesex's fine form, the importance of confidence and the thrills of... |
guardian.co.uk
2 days ago | These are dark days for David Cameron and his government. Today's newspapers, in company with TV and... |
guardian.co.uk
2 days ago | Last Wednesday a panel of experts answered your questions about how small businesses can export to... |
| |
guardian.co.uk
3 days ago | Carragher's character, very different summers for Everton and Chelsea, and why Andy Carroll can go... |
guardian.co.uk
3 days ago | In the second part of his special report, *Chris McGreal* meets President Paul Kagame in Kigali –... |
Toronto Star
4 days ago | SASKATOON—Nathan MacKinnon couldn’t have made a louder statement with a megaphone.
The... |
This is
5 days ago | This is Nottingham -- Who are the biggest threats to Forest's hopes of promotion next season? Here's... |
guardian.co.uk
1 week ago | The nationalist right has long set the agenda. Labour should back a referendum and make the... |
| |
|
|
Facebook
E-mail
Twitter
Mixx
StumbleUpon
FriendFeed