Harlequins progress to a top four finish continued last weekend when they overcame Saracens 21-15, which took them up to third place in the Premiership Table, this being the third consecutive week that we have moved up one place in the table. Indeed had those wayward kicks from NEv had not missed their target, our point’s difference would have been better than Leicester which would have seen us in second. Points mean prizes! The top six gets tighter each week with just five points separating these positions one and six, and the four teams in between all on 47 points. The bottom half of the table look to have been cut adrift, but there are four teams, including Newcastle, who look to be fighting hard  to improve their final standings. Worcester and Bristol look resigned to finish eleventh and twelfth respectively.

A few weeks ago the Newcastle – Harlequins match looked to be a formality. With Quins flying high Newcastle who had been having a poor languishing towards the bottom of the Premiership, however over the past couple of weeks there has been a metamorphosis. Newcastle has proved since January that they are resilient and are no longer the team that found themselves in 11^th place at Christmas. Newcastle no longer seem intimidated on the road and they have become stronger at home too. This week’s match is likely to be watched by their highest crowd of the season, with that all important sixteenth man playing their part. Newcastle have won their last five games and their last two away games and are now in eighth place. Two weeks The Falcons broke Northampton’s lengthy home record, after streaking away to a 0-19 lead in the first ten minutes. Despite a fight back by the home side and a strong defence Newcastle held on to win 13-19. Last week Newcastle tracked to Stock port to play Sale, who were expected to go top of the table. Falcons showed that their win at Franklins Gardens was not a fluke, when they came away from Edgeley Park with a fine 25-32 win. Such was their determination as witnessed on the highlights program that Newcastle fought hard for the bonus try win in wet conditions on a pitch that looked as if it had been transported from Blackpool beach. The Newcastle battle cry appears to be “Onwards and upwards”.

With both teams protecting a succession of unbroken Premiership wins, Quins six and Newcastle five this weekend “something’s gotta give”. If Quins are to hit their top four finish they will need to come away with the four points on Sunday. Their performance against Saracens was not electric, and Dean Richards has been reported this week as saying that the “best is yet to come”. He said “I am very pleased with how we are playing at the moment, but I believe there is still a lot more that we can achieve. We are not as clinical as I would like, and we are not taking our chances. The players are very analytical, which makes it easier for a coach when the squad are constantly looking to improve.” Richards is taking nothing for granted this weekend “I am expecting a very tough game, Newcastle will be buoyed by the Sale result. For Quins it is just a case of taking each game as it comes” Interestingly his final comment was. “Our aim is to try and win every game and where we end up at the end of the season will be where we end up.”  This week will be a stern test for the quartered shirts and with Harlequins facing Sale at The Stoop next weekend these are two crucial games which will play a large part in determining our position at the end of the season.

Come on You Quins!

 Other fixtures this weekend include;

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