the game became a stop and start affair between teams that looked ring rusty and lacking in match play.  There were occasional flashes of good rugby and Quins contrived five tries to their opponents two.

From the starting kick off, brilliantly caught by Will Skinner, Quins were going forward.  Almost immediately they had a penalty and a lineout on the Northampton 5m line.  A catch and rive from the throw-in led to another penalty and another lineout and a knock-on turned over possession.  Another penalty, this time against Quins for going offside, allowed the visitors to clear the danger.

A fine break from the base of a scrum near the centre line by Tom Guest was only stopped a few metres short of the line.  The ball was popped up but was again stopped short and Quins had a five metre scrum.  A penalty to Quins at the scrum saw them call another scrum but lose the ball against the head. Yet another penalty for an offence at a ruck on the visitors’ 22m line gave Duffy a chance to open the scoring, but the kick went well wide of the posts. 

Offending at the breakdown by the Northampton forwards was beginning to try Ashley Rowden’s patience.  Having delivered warnings in plenty, on 14 minutes he struck. The culprit was the hooker, Cortese, and the yellow card followed. Quins were not slow to take advantage and again began to press strongly and move the ball about freely.  A kick through the defence saw Gavin Duffy follow and touch down for the first try which he converted to give Quins the lead at 7 – 0 as the first quarter ended.

Northampton responded to gain an attacking lineout on the left and further pressure gained a penalty which Bourret attempted from 35 metres but missed.  Play became fragmented and inconclusive in mid-field for some time until another fine break from the base of the scrum by Tom Guest again looked to be likely to produce a try. But Guest, looking for support, checked tried to pass as he was tackled but the pass was a poor one and the ball was knocked-on.  The opportunity disappeared. 

With about six minutes of the half remaining and with Quins pressing hard, a clever grubber kick to the corner by Tosh Masson for Ugo Monye saw the winger collect it and score,  Duffy’s conversion  attempt from the touchline missed but Quins led 12 – 0.  Quins continued to press but a Northampton penalty was reversed for indiscipline and although Quins called a scrum, they lost possession. 

Then Northampton struck back fortuitously.  A clearance kick rebounded, apparently from the head of a Northampton player, rapidly towards the in-goal area with two Northampton backs in rapid pursuit for Bourret to win the race for the touchdown and score,  His successful conversion reduced the lead to 12 – 7.  Quins immediately responded and good play took them into the Northampton twenty-two where they were awarded a scrum in front of the posts.  Duffy made no mistake with kick to increase Quins lead to 15 – 7 at half-time. 

At the interval Quins made the first of their substitutions with Hayter, Lambert and Sherriff replacing Richards, Nebbett and Skinner respectively.  From the start they again sought to attack.  They stole two lineouts on their opponents’ ball.  From a good break by Masson, Tom Williams was almost through only to knock-on when a couple of metres short of the line. 

Ten minutes into the half came the best try of the night as a despairing high ball clearance was caught by Ugo Monye about half way in Northampton’s half.  In typical style he started off for the line evading at least three would-be tacklers and finally forced his way over the line with three more tackler hanging from him like tapes from a maypole for the last few metres.  Duffy’s kick just curled wide but the lead was now 20 – 7

Yet another fine break from Tom Guest threatened the visitors’ line but again a poor pass snuffed out the threat. Another yellow card for an offence at a ruck removed the flanker Rae and then a penalty allowed Quins to force an attacking lineout in the right corner.  The catch and drive that followed succeeded in putting Alex Rogers over the line to score,   Once again the conversion was missed. 25 – 7 after eighteen minutes of the second half. Quins continued to bring on substitutes and Rogers gave way to Peter Cooke, back from his loan spell with Bedford, and Van Der Westhuyzen, an exchange academy player from Nataal Sharks replaced Tom Guest.

Quins were now dominating the play and almost immediately following an excellent series of passes back and forth between Evans, Miall, So’oialo  and Tom Williams saw Steve So’oialo score the fifth try and this time Duffy’s kick was successful so that Quins led 32 – 7 as the last quarter began.

Northampton, too, began to make wholesale substitutions.  With the game already effectively lost they began to play with more freedom and penetration.  But it was really too little, too late.  A penalty set up a lineout close to the Quins line and the catch and drive which followed was not stopped as Burke touched down.  Pointon’s kick went wide despite the assistance of Mr. Rowden in laying down and holding the ball for the kick! The final score was 32 -12.

Harlequins – G. Duffy (capt); U. Monye, T. Masson (W. Maddock 69mins), M. Deane, S. Stegman; T. Williams (P. Burgess 73mins),S. So'oialo (I. Barnes 69mins); A. Rogers (P. Cook 59mins), J. Richards (J. Hayter 40mins), R. Nebbett (M. Lambert 40mins), J. Evans (Zulu 69mins), S. Miall, G. Robson, W. Skinner (L. Sherriff 40mins), T. Guest (Van der Westhuyzen 59mins).

Northampton Wanderers – R. Laird; M. Bourret (M. O'Regan 66mins), C.Wyles, S. Mallon (G. Anderson 66mins), J. Brake (A. Barnard 56mins); D. Lavery, D. Pointon (capt); B. Visagie (D. Richmond 40mins), M. Cortese, J. Graham (T. Laws 62mins), D. Browne, J. Percival (C. Lawes 53mins), A. Rae, B. Lewitt, C. Blom (D. Richmond 15-24mins; M. Burke 45mins).

Scorers:
NEC Harlequins
Tries: Duffy, Monye (2), Rogers, So'oialo; Con: Duffy; Pen: Duffy.
Northampton Wanderers
Tries: Bourret, Burke; Con: Bourret.

Referee:  Ashley Rowden (RFU)

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