It’s official: Harlequins complete a perfect spring season (8-0-0) with an A-side win over the condors, 43-22. The Bs were victorious today also and went without a loss and just one draw this season (5-0-1). The old boys however were not as fortunate, losing a tough one on the road 22-10.
The Harlequins once again traveled to their alternative home city of Chicago to try to cap an undefeated spring season against the Chicago Westside Condors. With 7 projected starters and several key reserves missing for the weekend the team faced a tall order with 4 Harlequins (Vinny, Tom, Craig, and Aaron) making their first A side starts and a couple of other players playing out of their normal position. Although we threw together a side that had barely played together as a unit there was a definite sense of confidence brewing prior to kickoff that we were going to get victory number 8 for the season.
The Condors tried to dictate the pace of the game from the start with aggressive forward play that resembled a 3 yard and a cloud of dust offense. The first big break came with the Quins back against their own goal line. After several phases of play we produced turnover ball near the goal line and we were off to the races. Several players touched the ball with impressive open field support play with Romain Vende finishing the final 40 meters to put the Quins up 5-0. An impressive 100 meter try that turned a potential 0-5 deficit into a 5-0 lead.
The youthful condors were not going to roll over. They continued to play a very controlled rucking/mauling game with their forward pack that produced some overloads for them. It became obvious at about the 20 minute mark that we had superior team speed and they were going to have to beat us in the forward pack to take the day. After a hard fought half the Quins took a one try lead into the break.
The start of the second half saw the Quins make several breaks up field but we were just unable to put the ball into the try zone. After a Condor quick tap penalty and a lackadaisical response by the Quins, the Condors actually took a one point lead at about 10 minute into the second half.
After that point it was thorough domination for the rest of the day. The forward pack had worn them down and we were now the team dictating the breakdown. Although not always crisp we ran a deliberate, controlled attack for the remaining 30 minutes and the tries started to flow. After the 30 minute clinic the final stood at 43-22 capping an undefeated spring season for the upstart Milwaukee Harlequins.
The final game put an exclamation point to an incredible spring. This Harlequin team displayed many of the attributes that have been missing since our Division III glory years. Attitude, Confidence, Poise, and Team Unity. There hasn’t been one game this spring where we ever doubted that we were going to be victorious.
Although several players stepped up big for the day, the Man of the Match would have to go to our French Superstar who played his last game for us before departing back home. Romain Vende had 2 tries and set up several others with his ability to slip the first tackle and create a breakthrough. The team would like to thank Romain for his contributions this spring, wish him luck, and also remind him that we’re offering a lucrative long term contract to keep him in Milwaukee!
