Bath started the game having to make some player changes. With both Mears and Grewcock suspended and Steve Borthwick (thankfully) back from injury, there was some major changes in the pack. A late illness to Nick Abendanon saw Steve Meehan have to re-jig his backline, with Barkley moving to full-back, Stephenson to wing and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu was re-called from bench duty back in to the centre alongside Chev Walker.

The weather was atrocious and affected the skills(sic) on show and the style of play. Pouring rain and a driving wind impacted on lineout play as the forwards of both sides struggled to catch and hold the ball. Similarly kicking was affected and with Bath playing with wind and rain in their faces in first half they knew they would struggle in the first forty minutes. Unfortunately they also struggled in the second half.

An early penalty to Quins after a few minutes opened the scoring when Bath were offside following a lineout. Bath were just able to keep the home team at bay for much of the first half but it looked as though their defensive wall had been breached when Andre Vos touched down following a chip through by Strettle after 25 minutes. Fortunately for Bath referee Pearson adjudged Vos to have knocked on.

Adrian Jarvis had a chance to double the Quins' score after 30 minutes with a long distance penalty in front of Bath's posts but  failed to find his range. However he had another chance a few moments later and gave the kick a bit more welly, taking the score to 6-0.

Half-time couldn't come soon enough for the Bath players and supporters alike. Harlequins drove up-field on the last play but, after a series of phases they knocked forward to end the half leading by two Adrian Jarvis penalties.

Bath had their first shot of the game at goal a few minutes in to the second half but Olly Barkley missed. Within five minutes Jarvis had another opportunity to extend the Quins' lead after Steve Borthwick had been penalised. He missed but the ball went loose over the Bath line and there was momentary danger as Quins' attacking players followed up.

Barkley had a second kick at goal, after Nick Easter had fouled Delve in a lineout and this time he had his sights set correctly to make the score 6-3. Bath were then penalised at a scrum to give Jarvis his fifth kick at goal. Fortunately for Bath the Quins' No 10 pushed the ball wide.

David Barnes was sent to the sin bin for dangerous play in a lineout and this saw Aaron Jarvis join the pack as replacement prop. Zak Feau'nati was withdrawn to make way for Jarvis to give the home side a great advantage up front. Amazingly Bath struck against the head at the next scrum but couldn't take advantage as the ball squirted away from Walshe.

Given the conditions and lack of scoring opportunities for the visitors, Adrian Jarvis appeared to put the game beyond Bath with a penalty in front of the posts, to make the score 9-3 with just 16 minutes left. However Bath finally started to put on some pressure and almost scored the opening try of the game but were unable to keep hold of the ball as they crossed the line, giving Harlequins a clearance scrum. Joe Maddock then had an overlap which could have seen him running towards the Quins' line but the Kiwi winger dropped the greasy ball.

A late penalty for Bath in the Quins' twenty-two saw Chris Malone kick for touch but, frustratingly, Nick Spanghero stole the lineout to snuff out Bath's final chance of sneaking an unlikely win.

Referee: Dave Pearson

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