The leakage started in the first minute when, Quins having knocked on from the reception of the kick-off , Bath had a scrum midway in the Quins half.  Quick ball from the scrum saw their winger, Matt Banahan, allowed to run untouched through the defence to score.  The conversion was missed, but Quins were 0 – 5 down after two minutes. 

Harlequins’ response was very quick.  They recovered the restart and a poor pass was picked up by Chris Hala’ufia who broke clear down the right wing giving the scoring inside pass for Adam Thompstone to score under the posts and with the simple conversion by Andrew Mehrtens, Quins had regained the lead at 7 -5 and only four minutes of the match had elapsed. 

Hala’ufia was creating danger for Bath at every opportunity and almost immediately another excellent break saw him run a full fifty metres deep into the Bath twenty-two before being hauled down.  Unfortunately he had run away from his support and Bath was able to clear.  A minute or so later, however, a penalty in front of the posts allowed Mehrtens to add three points.  

Another penalty almost immediately after the restart saw Mehrtens find a superb touch a couple of metres from the Bath line and give Quins an attacking line-out in the left corner.  An infringement at the line-out gave them another penalty and the called for a scrum but they themselves infringed and the attack was ended.  But Bath had been encouraged by their success in repelling the pressure and they themselves began to press and push Quins back into their own half. 

Then as the first quarter ended another break and more missed tackles saw the lock Myerscough force his way through for Bath’s second try.  Cozens added the conversion and Bath had retaken the lead at 10 – 12.  They held that lead for five minutes until a penalty in an easily kickable position saw Mehrtens add another three points to regain the lead 13 - 12. 

Bath tried hard to increase the pressure but Mehrtens kicking kept Bath at bay and eventually put Quins back into the Bath twenty-two.  With the half rapidly drawing to an end a quickly taken penalty from So’oialo saw the ball come to Tosh Masson whose evasive run and strong hand-offs saw him cross to score.  Mehrtens’ kick from wide out went in off the left post.   Bath tried to respond and another attack brought them a penalty which Cozens kicked to take the score to 20 – 15.  Another penalty to Harlequins 40 metres out on the right touchline saw Mehrtens miss with the final kick of the half. 

At half-time George Robson replaced Spanghero and Jimmy Richards replaced Hayter.  Quins attempted to inject pace and pressure into the game but first a knock-on and then an accidental obstruction stopped them.  From the scrum Bath began to run the ball and with the Quins defence too far upfield their flanker, Bentall, broke a tackle and ran forty metres to score easily.  Cozens converted and Bath had regained the lead at 20 - 22.

Cozens, too was kicking well for touch and he was keeping Quins in their own half.  But Quins were showing considerable determination and suddenly with a two man overlap down the right wing Tosh Masson went in for his second try an dodged his way along the in goal area to touch down near the posts to leave Mehrtens with another easy kick for 27 – 22 after thirteen minutes of the second half. 

Almost from the restart Quins had a penalty just inside the Bath half and Mehrtens found touch to give Quins a five metre attacking line-out.  A powerful catch and drive brought another try as Croall was driven over.  Mehrtens kick failed. 32 -  22 after sixteen minutes of the second half. 

More substitutions as the last quarter started saw Lorne Ward, Luke Sherriff and Dave Millard replace Croall, Lambert and Guest.   The replacements barely had  time to take their positions before Bath were breaking away again as Quins missed tackles and allowed  an overlap on the left to score yet another Bath try and Cozens again added the points for 32 – 29.

Soon after, from a line-out in the Bath twenty-two, Quins tried another catch and drive and although the maul was stopped, Quins had an attacking scrum.  From the scrum two powerful pick ups and drive by the forwards took play almost to the Bath try-line.  Then the ball came out slowly for Steve So’oialo to pick up and stroll through a gap unopposed for the try under the posts again converted by Mehrtens.

Quins now looked to have the game won, but the defence was still fragile and although a fine run of over seventy metres by George Robson took play away from the Quins half, he was stopped before he could score.  Again Quins found they were camped on the Bath line but could not cross.   They had another attacking scrum but contrived to allow possession to be turned over and Bath broke out running the ball virtually unopposed from their twenty-two to score under the posts.  With Cozen’s conversion the score was now 39 – 36.

There was undoubted apprehension in the Quins’ camp as the last minutes ticked away.  But the finger in the dyke held and the leak was not fatal as Harlequins took another five league points.  For Harlequins, Tosh Masson was back to his old sharpness and a future pairing in the centre with Jordan Turner-Hall is one for future relish.  Chris Hala’ufia ran powerfully and carried the ball well posing a constant threat and regularly getting across the gain line and So’oialo was very sharp. 

There remains only one more match in this year’s campaign in the A League, away at Gloucester on Easter Monday.  Unfortunately, losing three games and in particular the home match against Wasps has cost Quins a third A league final in four years.

Harlequins  
15. Will Maddocks , 14. Adam Thompstone, 13. Tosh Masson, 12. Seb Jewell, 11. Mike Marsh, 10. Andrew Mehrtens, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Aston Croall, 2. James Hayter, 3. Mark Lambert,  4. Nicolas Spanghero, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Tom Guest, 7. Phil Burgess, 8. Chris Hala'Ufia
Replacements: 16. Dave Millard, 17. Jimmy Richards, 18. Lorne Ward, 19. George Robson, 20. Luke Sherriff, 21. Ian Barnes, 22. Richard Briggs

Referee: Gareth Copsey (RFU)

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