Rugby union: Rupe Quiney enjoying the good times at Streatham as four-point haul follows cup win

BY DAVID CARR

Streatham alternate captain Rupe Quiney admitted the last two weeks have been “pretty cool” after the RedHawks followed up their cup final win with another four-point weekend in the league.

A thumping 9-1 win on the road in Romford last Saturday was followed up by a thrilling 4-3 home win over second-placed Solent Devils, leaving the team four points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand.

“We were all suffering from a bit of a cup win hangover on Saturday when we started the game in Romford,” admitted Quiney.

“They are a fast, young team that came out to play early, while we started quite slowly, gifting them chances we wouldn’t have done the week before.

“The eventual 9-1 scoreline was probably more flattering for us than what the balance of the game truly showed.”

Streatham squared up against Solent Devils, the only team to beat them so far this seasonand likely their main challengers for the title, on Sunday .

The home side were 2-0 down before a toe-to-toe bout between Ryan Watt and  Mitch Murray sparked a comeback and eventual 4-3 win. Watt scored twice in the game adding to lone efforts from Adam Carr and Michael Farn.

“In the second and third period we started to play our game, we got our rhythm back and started to grind away,” explained Quiney, who was awarded league player of the month in January.

“I don’t know what the shots were, but I know we spent most of the time in their zone, it was only a matter of time before we started to break through.

“I didn’t see the second goal, but Watty’s goal to make it 3-2 has to be goal of the year. Not just for the ridiculous move, but to pull it off at that time of the game when we needed it most.”

Streatham head into another double header weekend, hosting MK Thunder and travelling to Invicta Dynamos 24 hours later.

“It’s been a really cool couple of weeks for everyone at the club,” said Quiney.

“The club last lifted a trophy eight years before I was born when my Dad was in the team so that says it all.

“It’s been great to see everyone smiling around the rink.

“We just need to keep the form going and keep our place at the top of the league.”

Main Pic: Ryan Watt