From the very start there was an urgency and pace about their play which promised well for the outcome.  The start was not entirely propitious, the kick-off not going ten metres and conceding a scrum immediately, although Steve So’oialo, at his opposite number’s heels, caused a knock-on to repair the situation.   Immediately Quins went on the attack and good pressure saw them penetrate deep into Bristol’s twenty-two only for Lambert to lose the ball forward in the tackle.

Both sides were injecting good pace into the game and an excellent break by So’oialo made ground but he was ruled offside.  Then after nine minutes, a perfectly quickly well-taken twenty-two metre drop-out was ruled a knock on and Bristol pressure from the resulting scrum saw them open the scoring as the two Bristol centres broke through the Quins’ defence for Luke Arscott to touch down under the posts.  The conversion was simple and the visitors led 0 - 7. That concluded their scoring for the remainder of the match as, despite increased pressure and pace, they were unable to break through again.

A good break by Charlie Amesbury was stopped on the Bristol twenty-two and further good attacks by So’oialo, at his sharpest all through the game, and Spanghero were resisted and ended with infringements.  Then a penalty allowed Tom Williams to find a good touch almost on the Bristol try-line and the resulting catch and drive saw Jimmy Richards touch down for Quins’ opening score half way through the first half.  Tom Williams failed with the conversion attempt, as he did with an attempt at goal a few minutes later.

Another penalty produced another attacking line-out, but the visitors withstood the pressure on their line and the attack petered out.  Then with only five minutes of the half remaining, Quins had a scrum on the Bristol twenty-two and Chris Hala’ufia, as he had been threatening to do throughout, broke on the blind side from the base of the scrum unopposed to score Quins’ second try.  The conversion attempt failed, but Quins were now in the lead 10 - 7. 

The half was not yet over however. Another penalty produced an attacking line-out on the left and So’oialo’ quick pop pass found Tom Williams, at full tilt straight through the Bristol defence to touch down under the posts.  This time he added the points to give Quins a half-time lead at 17 - 7.

Changes made at half-time saw Hayter, Robson and Rogers on for Richards, Guest and Jones respectively, followed soon after by Sherrif replacing Hala’ufia, Nebbett for Lambert and Burgess replacing Jordan Turner-Hall with Sherriff then playing at centre!  With some substitutions on the Bristol side too, play became disjointed and scrappy.   It was not until almost fifteen minutes of the half had elapsed that Quins were able to score their fourth, bonus point, try.  A good backs move sparked by So’oialo and Gavin Duffy put Tom Williams over for his second try of the night.  Duffy had the conversion attempt but failed to add the points.

Charlie Amesbury, kicking and chasing hard might have had a try but the speed caused the kick to be too hard and the ball ran over the dead ball line.  He had better success, however, shortly afterwards when a ballooning cross kick from Tom Williams found Amesbury, unopposed, catching and scoring Quins’ fifth try.  Amesbury took the conversion attempt, but fared no better, so that 27 - 7 was the final score.

This was a vastly improved performance and the way in which the team had produced that after the previous week’s debacle, clearly pleased and satisfied Collin Osborne and Tony Diprose and the competition for 1^st XV places looks more realistic.  The lack of a kicker with two fly-halves injured is a more serious problem.

TEAMS

Harlequins:
15. Gavin Duffy, 14. Adam Thompstone, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. Charlie Amesbury, 10. Tom Williams, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. Jimmy Richards, 3. Mark Lambert, 4. Nicolas Spanghero, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Tom Guest, 7. Will Skinner, 8. Chris Hala'Ufia
Replacements: 16. James Hayter, 17. Alex Rogers, 18. Ricky Nebbett, 19. George Robson, 20. Luke Sherriff, 21. Phil Burgess, 22. Danny Care

Scorers: Tries: Richards, Hala'Ufia, Williams (2), Amesbury; Conversion: Williams

Bristol United:
15. Bernardo Stortoni, 14. Ashley Maggs, 13. Sam Cox, 12. Luke Arscott, 11. Craig Morgan, 10. Danny Gray,9.  Greg Nicholls; 1. Mark Irish, 2. Scott Linklater, 3. Jason Hobson, 4. Mariano Sambucetti, 5. Sean Hohneck, 6. Redford Pennycook, 7. Craig Short, 8. James Phillips
Replacements: David Blaney, Wayne Thompson, Josh Brown, James Lumby, Chris Hallam, Gareth Griffiths, Walter Pozzebon.

Scorers: Tries: Arscott; Conversion: Gray

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