The forward battle was always going to be the place where the visitors sought to impose themselves. For the first ten minutes of the match both sides tried hard to exert dominance through their packs without actually doing so. Possession once gained was hard to turn over until an unforced error gave opportunity. It was a badly fumbled attempt at a quick twenty-two dropout, which led almost directly to the first score of the match, with Worcester gaining possession and moving the ball right to their big Fijian No. 8, Talei who ran straight through the Quins’ defensive line to score. Brown missed the conversion, but the visitors led by 0 – 5.

In less than five minutes Quins had gathered themselves and struck back. A fine break in midfield by Chris Hala’Ufia with Will Skinner able to continue the run and find Ugo Monye with a superb pass which gave the winger an easy thirty-metre run to score the try. Malone added the conversion and Quins led 7- 5. Three minutes later a successful penalty kick from the twenty-two metre line allowed Malone to increase the lead to 10 – 5.

Then a carelessly high tackle from Hala’Ufia was greeted by an immediate yellow card and was immediately followed by Brown adding three points to the visitors’ score. Worcester did everything possible to capitalise on the extra man, causing Quins to defend strongly under sustained pressure. Then a penalty wide out on the twenty-two saw Worcester find touch for an attacking lineout. The subsequent catch and drive by the Warriors’ powerful pack drove their hooker, Lutui, over for the try which Crichton, who had taken over kicking duties, easily converted for the lead.

Keogh replaced Strettle, who had slightly strained his knee. Quins went back on the attack. An excellent break by Monye, who was showing good pace and good strength in the tackle, took play deep into the Worcester twenty-two but the two-man tackle which halted his run also caused him to lose the ball forward. But now Quins were back to full strength as Hala’Ufia returned.

Quins then set up a catch and drive from a lineout on the visitors’ twenty-two. As it rolled nearer to the line Danny Care broke off on a curving run to the left and his pass gave Monye just two paces to the line for the winger’s second try. Malone kicked the conversion from the touchline and Quins had regained the lead at 17 – 15. But with fifteen seconds left on the clock as the restart was taken, Quins managed to concede a silly penalty on their own twenty-two allowing Crichton to ensure the visitors ended the half leading 17 – 18.

Dean Richards must have said some strong words during the break. Quins came out with greater determination, Ugo Monye claiming the ball at Malone’s high kick-off. A touch judge’s intervention at the next stoppage gave the Warriors a penalty and allowed them to clear into the Quins half of the field. Quins, however, stole the ball at the lineout and began to pick and drive through the forwards until another penalty was conceded.

Further good Quins’ attacks were halted by a final poor pass or other unforced error and further silly penalties. The largely inconclusive midfield battle ended after the first quarter hour with a yellow card for Marcel Garvey for a deliberate knock-on as he slowed down a good Quins attack. From the attacking lineout that followed, Quins moved the ball right and Mike Brown came into the line to take the final pass and score out on the right. Malone’s kick narrowly missed to the right as Quins regained the lead 22 – 18.

Quins continued to look for a fourth try. A fine up and under from Mike Brown was beautifully retrieved by him. He looked to be able to reach the line. His final and probably unnecessary pass, however, was knocked on and the opportunity was wasted. Then a superb cross-kick from Malone to the left wing saw Monye get his fingertips to the ball but he was unable to control the ball and another chance to make the game safe had gone.

A raft of replacements for the visitors attempted to spark some attack and eventually produced another attacking lineout about twelve metres from the Quins’ line. It was inevitable that the catch and drive would follow. The power of their forwards has been their major weapon. So it proved again as for the second time in the match the power of the Worcester forwards saw them drive for the line and for Pat Sanderson to dive over for the try. The conversion attempt failed, but the lead was Worcester’s.

With eight minutes remaining Quins threw everything into attack. Two fine runs by Monye were stopped, one only a couple of metres from the line. An attempt to give Malone a drop goal attempt failed to produce a decent opportunity and Worcester held on for the one point win that will leave Ospreys comfortably into the semi-final of the EDF Cup after they routed London Irish on Sunday.

After the match Dean Richards was caustic in his view of the performance. He said: "I don't think some of them have understood that every game is an important as the next. The best players in the world treat every game the same and that is what we have got to be striving form, the consistency.”

"I also felt they underestimated Worcester who have played some fantastic rugby this season and not got the rewards they deserved. Ours is a very young side that needs to concentrate week-in and week-out. I don't think, at this moment in time, we have got that hard edge about us and it cost us today. But it will come."

Richards confirmed that he had said some hard words about their approach at half-time, adding: "The first 30 minutes of the game we were haphazard in everything we did and there were harsh words. Some of the needless penalties we gave away were very frustrating."

Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle (S Keogh 36min), H Luscombe, De Wet Barry, U Monye; C Malone (capt), D Care; C Jones, C Brooker, M Ross (J Brooks 72min), N Spanghero (O Kohn 72min), J Evans, C Robshaw, C Hala’Ufia (T Guest 72min), W Skinner.

Worcester: L Crichton; T Delport (M Benjamin 70min), D Rasmussen, M Tucker (C Pennell 59min), M Garvey; J Brown, M Powell; D Morris (T Windo 68min), A Lutui (C Fortey 60min), T Taumoepau, P Murphy (W Bowley 59min), C Gillies, T Wood, N Talei, P Sanderson (capt, G Quinnell 35-40min).

Scorers:

Harlequins: Tries: Monye (2), Brown Cons: Malone (2) Pen: Malone

Worcester: Tries: Talei, Lutui, Sanderson Con: Crichton Pens: Brown, Crichton

Yellow cards: Harlequins: Hala’ufia (27min) Worcester: Garvey (56min)

Referee:C White (RFU)

Attendance:8,829

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