Lets face it Quins fans, this season has been awful! From the delights of last season it has all gone pear shaped. In fact it started at the end of last season. The ‘nilling’ by London Irish in the GP semi-final, then….well, you all know what happened next unless you live in a vacuum. Still, we have a few games left to play at home so, roll up and take your seats as soon as possible, hold tight…its going to be a bumpy ride!

I was nervous about this game. I always volunteer to do the Worcester at home game as in recent years we really have put them to the sword. 10 tries were scored by us in the same fixture last year but I was worried, very worried. Which Quins would turn up for this game? The mood around the ground wasn’t too confident either.

1^st Half.

The stall was set out very early on in this game. Both sides desperate to put a run of victories together and we seemd to want to give it our visitors when an awfully wayward pass by Tom Williams led to early pressure in our 22. Quins defence was tested for the first time and then our lines are cleared. Quins regain possession and start to put some pressure on Worcester. A driving maul with great pace flies down the pitch and we are banging at the door for a try. Worcester defence hold up for a while but the intensity of the Quins attack is too much and Worcester begin to buckle and eventually the ball is driven over and the try is accredited to Rory Clegg but I didn’t see who had scored. Rory tries to add the extras but misses with a near ‘grass cutter’. Quins 5 Wuss 0 after 8 minutes.

The game kicks off again and our score seems to have woken our visitors up as they break dangerously in midfield. ‘Miss pass’ move a plenty and worryingly miss tackles a plenty from Quins. The ball is thrown out wide and  a well worked try is scored for Worcester by No 11 Miles Benjamin. Jones misses the conversion so its 5-5 with 11 minutes played. I notice a strange new security measure as the Stewards, wherever they may be in the stand, come down and stand pitch side after a try has been scored. Were they really expecting a pitch invasion???

Worcester, to their credit are playing with pace and conviction and are rewarded when Quins infringe with a penalty on the halfway line which is kicked into touch right on the 22. Quins infringe again and this time the ball in punted into the north west corner for a line out close to our try line. Any danger is soon over as Worcester knock on.

After a rare penalty to Quins there is some sign of hunger as some great back play has us scoring again…..NO! we didn’t score, we knocked on…Hmmmmmmm. Scrum to Wuss. The scrum wheels rapidly and Wuss get the penalty. A mix up at the resulting line out and it all gets messy but Worcester still come away with the ball. The ball then gets stuck in midfield where there is a real battle going on on the floor. Play is switched from one wing to the other. David Strettle is looking hungrier than I’ve seen him lately but he is well wrapped up. Wuss regain possession and Quins seem to be buying every ‘miss pass’ or slice move from Worcester leading to potential danger. This is not a game for the faint hearted! Some lovely wing play from Quins and we’re through the gain line…the try is on but held up. From the 5m scrum the ball comes to Clegg who leaves himself too exposed in front of the posts and holds on to give away the penalty. There is a feeling of frustration around me…Come on Quins…Sort it out!!! The Worcester line out isn’t great but we give away YET ANOTHER penalty. This is getting annoying now. Worcester are putting an impressive passage of play together and really throwing the ball around with confidence and purpose. OOOh, Handbags in our 22. Wuss are awarded another penalty which is NOT popular with the home crowd. Jones goes for the points and misses. 9 mins left in this half and Quins are fortunate that its still 5-5.

Quins now seem a bit more fired up now and tenacious at the breakdown which is good to see, but some miscommunication puts us under pressure again and I have to mention the Ref now, who I think is starting to lose the plot a bit!!!

More good pressure from Quins and after a scrappy moment in midfield we eventually win a penalty……and Wuss are marched back another 10m for petulance in not giving the ball back to Quins. Both side get a little breather as play is stopped for and injury, I think to Tom Guest. This hasn’t been a great half by either side on this bitterly cold afternoon. Honours (if you can call them that) are even at half time. Quins need to up their game if they are going to win as Worcester look dangerous on the break.

The half time entertainment is as usual. BRRRRRRR Those LV Girls must be cold!! Half naked and its FREEZING!! Still, watching them brings a little warmth ;-). Up next….Oh Noooooooooooooo its that awful Etihad Cup of Doom game which is as big a waste of 10 minutes you could ever want, so, job done there. YAWWWN!

2^nd Half:

No changes to either side, Quins kick off. A maul ensues…a stalling maul as opposed to a driving one, the ball is moved quickly to the backs but they knock on. This is lively and enterprising play by Quins and a great cross field kick which Stretts just misses. There are more handbags now and ANOTHER penalty to Wuss who fumble it in midfield. I know how they must feel as I can’t feel the end of my fingers as I type this report on my iPhone. A quick break by Quins and Clegg shapes for a drop gaol but is caught in two minds and his wide pass is swallowed up…a chance missed I think. A scrum to Quins on the 22 and we win a penalty. I don’t know what’s going on in the scrum and seemingly nor does the Ref and we conceed the umpteenth penalty of the game. This is scrappy play by Quins.  The Warriors fans sense a score here and are in good voice and this spurs some good play by the visitors and they score 3 points from a penalty. 5-8 to Wuss.

Tani Fuga comes on for Matt Cairns and Quins win a penalty for a high tackle which Clegg goes for points and levels the match 8-8 with 27 mins to go. JTH is being used as a midfield battering ram but it only works sometimes and he is turned over. Wuss break very quickly and the ball is kicked up field with plenty of players chasing. A GREAT take and counter break by Mike Brown and Quins start putting on some pressure again…This is better Quins..Keep it up!! Wuss make changes in the 2^nd row. Personally I think it was before someone got carded for persistant infringement. Tani makes a good break and he has certainly made a difference since coming on. Worcester are defending well under pressure. A mini game of aerial ping pong starts with both sides inviting the error. Neither side really looks like scoring a try and an all too familiar 2^nd half from Quins looks on the cards…This is nervy stuff. Wuss take a long range penalty and its now 8-11…as Max says…COME ON QUINS!!! We win a scrum on the Wuss 22. Wuss are clearly infringing but nothing is given but a re-set. Now they are pushing before the ball in put in…Everytime Sir, everytime!!! This time they are penalised…Clegg goes for the posts. Well done Rory..its 11-11 with just under 15 mins to go.

More replacements by Worcester and they are holding on, winning penalty after penalty. I’m sorry but Mr Garner is having a poor game in my opinion. Having said that….we get a penalty on the halfway line. Rory Clegg goes for an outrageous long distance kick for the points….I’m nervous……HE GETS IT!!!!!....JUST!!! A good score and we are in the lead 14-11 with 10mins left. Another good break by Stretts but oooh..knocked on! The scrum collapses again. Wuss are sticking it up their jumper and making yards, slowly…strange when they are awarded a scrum, it doesn’t collapse or wheel violently! Still pressure from Worcester. We are tackling well but can’t seem to turn the ball over. Phase after phase of Worecester ball now and their vocal fans can smell an upset. Thankfully we turn the ball over. We have to keep it now, less than 2 mins left. It’s a scrum to Quins on the halfway line. Wuss make some, literally last minute replacements and we look like were are going to grind this one out. Come on Quins..no silly mistakes. We win a penalty when the clock is at zero. The ball is kicked out for a precious victory to Quins, moving us up to 7^th, and an equally precious losing bonus for Worcester.

A huge sigh of relief for me and many other around me. Well done Quins. A hard day at the office beating a tenacious but ultimately toothless Worcester side.

Final score: Quins 14 – 11 Worcester.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon