Wildcats maul Quins
Wakefield boosted their play-off hopes by inflicting a fourth straight defeat on Harlequins, the Wildcats running out 28-14 winners.
By Ben Sullivan
Last Updated: 13/08/07 12:46pm
Wakefield boosted their play-off hopes by inflicting a fourth straight defeat on Harlequins, the Wildcats running out 28-14 winners at Belle Vue.
It was a workmanlike display from an improving Wakefield team, but they were helped by Quins' indiscipline, errors and three generous video referee decisions.
The first of those was made inside two minutes before Wakefield had had their hands on the ball.
On the first set, Rob Purdham made a break from deep, Danny Orr's kick forced a drop-out and Mark McLinden dodged over beneath the sticks, only for the score to be ruled out for an obstruction by Henry Paul.
Lead
Three minutes later the hosts took a lead they were never to surrender, Ben Jefferies firing a kick off the side of his boot beneath the posts and Jamie Rooney sliding in to score.
Jason Demetriou was held up over the Quins line before Wakefield pressure forced a second try on 21 minutes, when Ryan Atkins raced over from close range from dummy half.
Atkins could have had a second try moments later only to knock on, before Demetriou sent Paul White over in the corner for his 40th career try.
Harlequins were given hope at the end of the half when Peter Fox's try was ruled out for a forward pass and the visitors went up the other end and cut the interval deficit to 14-4 with a Scott Hill try in the corner.
Jamie Rooney's penalty quickly stretched the lead before Quins had another try chalked off, this time from Tyrone Smith and again for obstruction.
Thwarted
The Wildcats immediately made them pay as Ned Catic powered over from close range, before Quins were yet again thwarted by the video ref, Jon Wells' score being ruled out for a debatable foot in touch.
Five minutes later, just past the hour mark, Wells did score a well-worked try in the same corner to get Quins to within 12 points, but a Rooney penalty and Atkins' second try killed off the game as a contest.
Quins kept battling to the end and Tyrone Smith forced himself over for a try right on the hooter, but after four straight defeats, the Londoners' season is unravelling at the crucial time.
