Quins secure the double with cup victory

One final try for Greenwood at 'HQ'

Former England star Will Greenwood signed off his association with Twickenham as NEC Harlequins recorded a 39-23 victory over the Bedford Blues in Sunday's Powergen National Trophy Final.

The recently-crowned National League One champions added this season's Powergen National Trophy to their collection, with 55 times-capped Greenwood touching down midway through the first half.

Quins will be reinforced for their Guinness Premiership return next term by international recruits like Stuart Abbott and Hal Luscombe, while Rotherham's England Sevens star David Strettle is also set to increase scoring firepower through a summer move.

It was one of Quins' brightest young prospects though - England Under-21 international Adrian Jarvis - who pulled the strings during a hard-fought victory.

Jarvis, replacement for injured New Zealand playmaker Andrew Mehrtens, kicked five penalties and two conversions to steer his team home, while Greenwood, fullback Tom Williams, wing Simon Keogh and No.8 Nick Easter claimed touchdowns.

Bedford, Quins' closest League One title rivals, had their moments, with flank Adam Kettle scoring just seven minutes after the Blues claimed a penalty try, and fly-half Ali Hepher booting 13 points.

But Quins never looked like relinquishing a narrow half-time advantage, and skipper Andre Vos celebrated his new one-year deal with the club by lifting the silverware.

Bedford, inspired by their Northampton-bound prop Soane Tonga'uiha, established early supremacy up front as Quins struggled to make an impact despite Williams's well-worked 13th-minute try.

Hepher's opening penalty strike was followed by referee Tim Wigglesworth awarding Bedford a penalty try three minutes after Quins had lock Simon Miall sin-binned, and Hepher's conversion established a 10-5 advantage.

Quins struggled to cope with Bedford's scrummaging prowess, but they were the more dangerous side with ball in hand, and they regained the lead when Jarvis's neat chip into space was gathered by Greenwood for a try that Jarvis improved.

Bedford were not ruffled though, regaining the initiative through Kettle's steaming 20-metre charge and a Hepher conversion as Quins' defensive frailties were again exposed.

Hepher's half-back partner Dom Malone though received a yellow card for a technical offence as half-time approached, and Jarvis capitalised by booting two penalties in quick succession for an 18-17 interval lead.

Bedford were briefly reduced to 13 men shortly after the restart when No.8 Shaun Brady was dispatched following a dangerous tackle, allowing Jarvis to complete his penalty hat-trick and leave the Blues rueing their indiscipline.

Two further Jarvis penalties sealed the deal for Quins during a disappointing second period that ended with Keogh's fine solo effort and a close-range Easter score.

* Dorking romped to the Powergen Junior Vase final with a 46-3 victory over Cleobury Mortimer at Twickenham on Sunday.

It was the biggest winning score in the competition's 15-year history and Dorking passed 1,000 points for the season in the process.

For Cleobury Mortimer it proved a step too far after tight games in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Dorking, runaway leaders of London Four South West, proved too quick and powerful their opponents and ran in seven unanswered tries.

The scorers:

For NEC Harlequins:
Tries: Greenwood, Williams, Keogh, Easter
Cons: Jarvis 2
Pens: Jarvis 5

For Bedford Blues:
Tries: Penalty Try, Kettle
Cons: Hepher 2
Pens: Hepher 3

The teams:

Bedford Blues: 15 James Hinkins, 14 Craig Moir, 13 Liam Roberts, 12 Matt Allen (captain), 11 Mike Staten, 10 Ali Hepher, 9 Dom Malone, 8 Shaun Brady, 7 Chris Rainbow, 6 Adam Kettle, 5 Arthur Brenton, 4 Jon Phillips, 3 John Brooks, 2 Chris Johnson, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Matt Price, 17 James Graham, 18 Marc Comb, 19 Sacha Harding, 20 Karl Dickson, 21 Tom Luke, 22 Kieran Hallett.

NEC Harlequins: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Simon Keogh, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Gavin Duffy, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Steve So'oialo, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Andre Vos (captain), 6 Tom Guest, 5 Simon Miall, 4 Jim Evans, 3 Lorne Ward, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Richards, 17 Ricky Nebbett, 18 Pablo Bouza, 19 Luke Sherriff, 20 Ian Vass, 21 Mel Deane, 22 Mike Brown.

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Touch judges: Kevin Stewart, Paul Dickens
Assessor: John Haggart