Both sides were rather short of match practice and unforced errors were frequent and so too was the whistle.  Nevertheless, both sides tried to play rugby, moving the ball through the hands and spreading it wide when opportunity arose. Quins were soon on attack and the first try came after six minutes as the ball was spread wide to the right and found Chris York who touched down in the right corner. Luveniyali’s conversion attempt drifted wide.

An enormous clearance kick from Luveniyali took play from Quins’ twenty- two almost to Worcester ‘s try line.   From the lineout that followed Quins’ forwards pressure eventually drove over but the ball was held up. Only five minutes of the half remained when a Quins attack found Joe Marler on the right wing in his own half and the prop forward galloped down the touchline for Quins’ second try.  Luveniyali’s kick struck the post.  There was still time for Worcester to respond with a successful penalty kick as the half ended with Quins leading 10 – 3.

Almost immediately from the restart Worcester had an attacking scrum and a free kick from an infringement at the set piece that was taken quickly and the ball spread wide to allow their full-back to score in the corner.  The conversion was missed.

Quins went back on the attack but their efforts were often blunted by a poor pass or other unforced errors.  The visitors were equally guilty.  When Quins got it right they moved the ball well and caused the visitors’ defence considerable problems with the result that Epi Taione went over for Quins’ third try.  The conversion was missed..

Quins were now firmly in control and although Worcester were battering at the door, they were never able to penetrate.  They had a kick at a penalty but missed and then the matter was put beyond doubt by a fourth try scored by Tom Sargeant and converted by Seb Jewell to make the score 22 – 8. Despite a late converted try for the visitors, Quins emphasised their superiority when Taione again crossed for a try in the last minute. Jewell’s kick drifted wide.

There were a number of admirable Quins supporters who braved the sub-arctic weather to stand round this somewhat bleak and inhospitable pitch.  In order to be able to make notes, your correspondent was forced to watch from his car parked behind the posts, which accounts for a certain lack of detail in these few lines.

Harlequins must now wait for the result of the match between Worcester and Wasps at Sixways next Monday.  If Wasps do not win with a bonus point Quins will head their group and have a place in a semi-final.  If Wasps succeed in obtaining a bonus point win, then Harlequins will have to play the best second placed team from the other two groups in a play-off match on 19^th January for the last semi-final place.

All should be revealed by next week!

HARLEQUINS:
1 Joe Marler  2 Micky Pointing 3 Mark Lambert 4 Ollie Kohn 5 Jim Evans
6 Tom Sargeant 7 Neil Mcmillan 8 Chris York  9 Andy Gomarsall  10 Waisea Luveniyali  11 Sam Smith  12 Epi Taione  13 Tosh Masson  14 Seb Stegmann
15 Charlie Amesbury
Replacements : 16 Dan Frazier  17 Peter Bracken  18 James Inglis  19 Luke Wallace
20 Gareth Williams   21 Seb Jewell   22 George Lowe

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