Bath started this game with 23 players not available to the coaching staff. Recent signing, Steve Booth, was called off the bench as Joe Maddock moved to full-back to replace Matt Perry who pulled out just before half-time. Alex Crockett also failed to appear and was replaced by Ryan Davies, having flown over from Ireland following an England U21 appearance less than 24 hours earlier. Heinrick Kok made his debut and Zac Feaunati was skipper. Bath were short of a player for the bench and drafted in a 17 year-old lad from the Academy, Peter Murchie: a name not known to me and not included in the official squad.

Harlequins made two changes to the team that faced Worcester last weekend. Mel Deane returned after recovering from a torn stomach muscle, and was joined in midfield by Dafydd James. As a result, George Harder moved to the wing. 

Picture courtesy of Eastander

Chris Malone started his kicking duties by missing a difficult penalty after just 3 minutes. The first real chance of the game came after 9 minutes when the Quins' scrum-half, So'oialo, evaded Rob Fidler and headed for the line but was hauled down by a charging Joe Maddock just a few feet short. Fortunately for the home side Bath were awarded a penalty following the try-saving tackle and so were able to clear their line.

Quins took the lead 0-3 as Jeremy Staunton took his first shot at goal after 22 minutes, following Bath being penalised on their twenty-two. But Bath hit back within five minutes as Rob Fidler celebrated his 150th Premiership appearance with a try. Martyn Wood took a quick tap-penalty to Lewis who, with Scaysbrook, set up a ruck. Steve Booth grabbed the ball and fed Fidler for the score. The conversion from Malone gave the home side a 7-3 lead.

Bath extended their lead to 10-3 with a 45 metre (in off the post) penalty from Chris Malone after Moyne and Williams collided trying to catch a high ball whilst managing to be off-side thus giving away a penalty. Bath nearly let Harlequins back in within a few moments, as a Malone clearance kick was charged down in front of his posts following a poor pass from the scrum-base by Martyn Wood, but the visitors couldn't take advantage.

Lee Mears scored Bath's second try right on half-time to give them a 15-3 lead. Bath broke down field with good inter-play between forwards and backs and eventually Ryan Davies set up Mears to burst through the Harlequins' defence for the score. A difficult late penalty attempt from Jeremy Staunton was just short of the posts which just left referee Lander with the task of blowing his whistle for half-time. 

Picture courtesy of Eastander

Harlequins immediately struck with a try after half-time when Ugo Moyne made the Bath defence pay for turning over the ball just in front of their line. A super touchline conversion from Staunton took the score to 15-10 and suddenly the visitors were right back in the game. Harlequins then piled on pressure for the next 20 minutes and this forced the Bath coaches to introduce David Flatman in place of Kok to add a bit more power to the pack. Within  moments Bath won a penalty from Flatman's first scrum - coincidence? Probably not, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide of attacks from Harlequins.

Quins dominated the second half of this game and a Dafydd James unopposed try, following a fluffed kick from Joe Maddock, took the score to 15-15 after 25 minutes. Jeremy Staunton broke Bath hearts as he kicked his side in to a 15-17 lead with a successful conversion. Bath were playing the second half on the back foot and looked the more likely to lose throughout. Bath struggled to get out of their half in the second period and their lack of familiarity with one another clearly showed as an almost "scratch" team ran out of steam.

The platform provided by the half-time score should have seen a home victory but fair play to Harlequins, they did the necessary and grabbed a precious win.

Notwithstanding the result, this business of playing on international week-ends is turning out game in to a lottery, if not a farce. 

Bath 15 Quins 17 Tries: Fidler Mears Tries: Monye James Cons: Malone Cons: Staunton 2 Pens: Malone Pens: Staunton

Bath: Joe Maddock; Steve Booth, Andrew Higgins, Ryan Davies, Andy Williams; Chris Malone, Martyn Wood; Heinrick Kok, Lee Mears, Christian Loader; James Hudson, Rob Fidler; Geraint Lewis, James Scaysbrook, Zac Feaunati.
Replacements: Dave Ward, David Flatman, Gareth Delve, Ramiro Pez, Hugh Perrett, Nick Walshe, Peter Murchie

Harlequins: Tom Williams, George Harder, Dafydd James, Mel Deane, Ugo Monye, Jeremy Staunton, Steve So'oialo, Mike Worsley, Tani Fuga, Ceri Jones, Jim Evans, Simon Maling, Nick Easter, Andre Vos ,Tony Diprose
Replacements: 16 James Hayter, 17 Jon Dawson, 18 Simon Miall, 19 Luke Sherriff, 20 Simon Keogh, 21 Arwel Thomas, 22 Gavin Duffy

Referee: Steve Lander

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