I could have just pasted my notes on the match here: they are about as organised and unilluminating to the uninitiated as much of Bristol's play, but it is probably better if I attempt to unravel them.  The afternoon was sunny with a pleasant slight breeze as the English summer made a belated appearance.  Bristol kicked off the half to initiate an initial phase dominated by inconclusive kicking by both teams.  Eventually ‘Quins made touch and Bristol won the first lineout.  A long kick from Adrian Jarvis, on his return to the Stoop Memorial Ground, was well marked and the hosts were able to launch the first meaningful attack of the game.  It lead to the award of a penalty that Luveniyale, in what was to prove a familiar story, hit well wide of the posts.

Bristol attempted to counterattack but the pass out to David Lemi on the wing went straight into touch.  This allowed ‘Quins back into things and quick thinking by Care from a tapped penalty took advantage of slack Bristol defending.  A kick ahead was gatherered by Luke Arscott who thought he saw the chance to make one of his defence splitting runs.  However he had no support, made no ground and was swiftly dispossessed.  ‘Quins got the ball out and Turner-Hall went over for a good try.  The conversion attempt went wide off the left-hand post, but 5 - 0.  Bristol had a chance to narrow the gap soon after but Jarvis' penalty effort was too short.

Bristol tried to put ‘Quins under pressure and Scott Linklater made a typically bustling run that came to naught.  The Bristol scrum that followed appeared under pressure (though less so than last week against B**h) and ‘Quins were able to kick long to clear any danger.  Instead it was Bristol in danger when Larscott made what appeared to be an incredibly stupid decision to run the ball back from his own line.  I'm told by those closer to this piece of action that the ball was just short of the line and that he had one foot behind the line.  Oh dear, he was inevitably turned over and an easy try for ‘Quins that was surprisingly converted and a 12 - 0 lead.  The chance to quickly extend the lead from a penalty for a foolish offside was lost as the kicker reverted to type with another miss.  Bristol then managed to put together some coherent play and Neil Brew made an excellent break through the middle that was only halted by a desperate tackle that sent Brew stumbling to the ground.  Support was there and Monye flopped onto the ball in a pretty obvious manner leaving the referee with little choice but to brandish the yellow card.  With the half drawing to a close Jarvis nailed the resultant penalty and soon another to bring Bristol back into things with a 12 - 6 score at half time.

Although the ‘Quins tries could be put down to individual errors, there was something about the Bristol play that boded ill.  The rucks and ruck defence looked shaky, ideas and confidence appeared in short supply.  Curiously, Lemi had also seemed to be making decisions concerning penalty kicks to goal or touch.  The second half commenced with an early penalty chance for Jarvis that went wide and was followed by a break for an injury that fortunately proved to be not serious.  Bristol again strung together some good play and forced ‘Quins back, but they made a mess of a three to two overlap when the final pass to Lemi was sloppy and he knocked on.

It was now Bristol's turn for a sin-binning and Robert Sidoli took the walk of shame.  I was unable to see the cause and I suspect he may attract the referee's attention in a similar manner to Garath Archer.  ‘Quins took much greater advantage than Bristol of the enforced absence. First, Care took the ball from the lineout and sprinted towards the line.  The tackling was ineffectual and he was not held, which allowed him to slide over for a converted try and a 19 - 6 lead.  Bristol then gifted another try when they clumsily turned over possession at a ruck and Guest was able to race over for what now looked an imposing 24 - 6 lead.  It looked as if the lead would be extended further when a kick through the Bristol defence left the line at the mercy of two attackers.  Fortunately for Bristol, the selfish play of the second row forward who saw his chance for try-scoring glory but lacked the skill to seize both it and the ball allowed them off the hook.  The respite was brief when quick lineout ball allowed the Bristol defence to be sliced apart and Tiesi to race through untouched for a converted  try and a 31 - 6 lead.  The final word went to Bristol as the ball went neatly along the line, delayed release of the pass pulled in the defence and Lemi went over out wide.  The very last touch with the clock on zero was Larscott's dropped conversion and a final, palindromic, score of 31 - 13.

What can I say?  I don't think this defeat was as bad as the appalling performance at Worcester last season, although some disagreed.  However, there is clearly something wrong with Bristol.  I accept that we have been unable to strengthen our squad in the way that most of our opponents have.  This was also true in previous seasons in which, frankly we performed better.  Here there was little sense that we had any real plan.  We were poorly organised and second best in virtually all departments.  Errors in judgement from Luke Arscott led directly to two tries.  Any player can make a mistake and, to his credit, Arscott remained mentally strong enough to overcome these mistakes and perform solidly.  Sadly his brother seemed more perturbed and his contribution was not what we needed to see.  In the centre Neil Brew showed why he was missed last week, but was he fully fit?  What has Luke Eves done wrong to not even rate a place on the bench?

Jarvis gave a composed performance against his old club but again had to cope with poor quality ball.  Hayden Thomas looked troubled by the attentions of Care and the struggle to retrieve the ball from a pack that was far from achieving parity with its opposition.  And there, I think, lies the heart of Bristol's problem: the inability of the forwards to impose themselves on their opponents, to dominate at the scrum, secure the lineout and win ball at the ruck.  I have been reluctant to criticise our forwards coach but it is tempting to conclude that the decline in our pack's performance coincides with the departure of Martin Haag.  We were, in fairness, better than against B**h, but against a weaker unit.  Our play at the breakdown is woeful and I am forced to conclude that the balance of our back row is wrong.  The lack of pace is becoming a problem and prevents us effectively supporting our own ball carrier and from harrying the opposition.  Dan Ward-Smith is clearly not the player he was before his injury.  The ELVs should allow a player in his mould to exploit the increased space at the scrum but we are not seeing this.  Perhaps, like many who suffer so serious an injury he has increased his muscle bulk to protect the injury but suffered a loss of pace as a consequence?  Or perhaps the fault lies further forward and he is suffering because the front five are struggling?  Here I ask why Alex Clarke seems out of favour?  Why David Blaney, who is highly mobile and inventive, gets so limited a chance?  Why our academy graduates are used so reluctantly?

For the first time I heard mutterings about our coaching and the role of Richard Hill.  Is this wrong?  The playing resources at his command are, with no disrespect, more limited than those of other clubs and this obviously constrains his actions.  However, we are seeing apparent signs of a lack of organisation, determination and, dare I say it, passion in our team.  Can this be solely down to the players?  Surely the coaching and overall management of the club have an impact here?  And what of the role of supporters?  There was a small contingent of travelling support, scattered about the ground.  ‘Quins have managed to build their home support and concerted cries of "Harelequins" were, amazingly, heard about the ground.  Were there any answering cries of "C'mon Bris!"?  Yes, there were; but only from isolated individuals lost amongst the home support.  The club seems no longer selling tickets to away games and consequently the travelling support is diluted around the ground and its impact reduced or absent.  A combination of factors here, but all tending to the conclusion that something must be changed and that, this early in the season, we must win our next home game.  I'll be there and I hope to see Sale crushed by a resurgent Bristol who have learned the lessons of this defeat.

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