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Page last updated at 16:32 GMT, Sunday, 23 May 2010 17:32 UK

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 54-12 Harlequins

Wakefield (18) 54
Tries: George 2, Gleeson 2, Obst 2, Henderson, Blanch, Demetriou, Cooke Goals: Cooke 7

Harlequins (6) 12
Tries: Clubb, Dorn Goals: Orr 2


Wakefield Trinity Wildcats half back Sam Obst
Sam Obst was Wakefield's player of the season in 2008 and 2009

Rampant Wakefield ended their run of six straight defeats in style as they outclassed Harlequins at Belle Vue.

Quins had won their last three league games but they were ripped apart in the sun as Trinity scorched to 10 tries.

Winger Luke George, centre Sean Gleeson and half-back Sam Obst scored two each, Kevin Henderson, Damien Blanch, Jason Demetriou and Paul Cooke also crossing.

A first-half try from Tony Clubb and a late score by Luke Dorn were all Quins could muster in response.

Unlike Quins, Wakefield have been struggling for form in recent weeks.

They have lost ground in the race for a play-off spot, as well as being dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Quins in the two teams' most recent meeting at The Stoop a month ago.

But the Wildcats were vibrant from the outset, with Obst irrepressible at scrum-half as they eased back up to that all-important eighth place in the table.

Two tries in four minutes put them in control.

In the 16th minute Cooke's high kick to the left corner was caught and grounded by George and then Paul Johnson's offload sent Gleeson scampering over the line.

It came as no surprise when the Wildcats added a third try, Obst starting and finishing a move which involved Johnson and Gleeson before Obst raced under the posts.

Quins scored a try out of nothing when Clubb waltzed through the Wakefield defence, but the hosts added a fourth try four minutes after the restart when replacement Henderson barged his way over.

In the 52nd minute Blanch raced 80 metres to touch down, and, shortly before the hour mark, Demetriou took advantage of another gaping hole in the Quins defence to race clear from distance.

Gleeson, George and Obst again produced clinical finishes to stretch Wakefield's lead before Cooke - who kicked seven goals - grabbed his side's tenth try from close range.

Dorn's last-minute effort, which Orr converted, was little consolation for the visitors.

Wakefield coach John Kear said:

"We've copped a fair bit of stick from various quarters but the lads have pulled together today and played like a real team.

"Desperation can make you crumble or it can inspire you. I think it inspired us today and I'm really pleased with the squad. Morale has been lifted immensely. The players are bouncing about and look as though they can play another 80 minutes.

"They were doing things today that we know they can do but have perhaps been a little too nervy to do. That element of confidence is marvellous. Once it starts coursing through your veins you feel really good about yourself and your team-mates.

"We talked about the weather and said we can either use it as an excuse or as a plus point. If you can't handle the ball in this weather then you never can."

Harlequins coach Brian McDermott said:

"Every now and again you get a day like that. Everything we touched didn't work and we came up against a pretty determined Wakefield side who played very well.

"What we did defensively was probably a result of everything not working, rather than losing the game because we were defensively poor."


Wakefield: Murphy, Blanch, Gleeson, Demetriou, George, Cooke, Obst, Moore, Leo-Latu, King, Johnson, Ferguson, Kirmond.
Replacements: Blaymire, Korkidas, Davey, Henderson.

Harlequins RL: Dorn, Sharp, Clubb, Howell, Penny, Gale, O'Callaghan, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Orr, Temata, Williamson, Purdham, Melling.
Replacements: Wilkes, Mills, May, Esders.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven).

Attendance: 4,371.



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see also
Wakefield 10-29 Bradford
14 May 10 |  My Club
Harlequins 40-24 Castleford
16 May 10 |  My Club
Rugby League on the BBC
15 Oct 10 |  Rugby League
Rugby league commentaries
03 Apr 10 |  Rugby League


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