When I originally ‘put my hand up’ to write this report, we were due to play Worcester in January, but after a valiant effort by club staff and supporters alike to clear the pitch of 3 inches of snow in the days leading up to the game, temperatures plummeted again and the game was called off due to a frozen pitch at The Stoop.

I love playing Worcester in the evening. It seems that since we re-gained our Premiership status, that’s when we like to play Worcester and haven’t lost to them since they did the double over us in our relegation season. With the pre- match news that our visitors were putting out a 2^nd string side I was looking forward to giving them a bit of a tonking.  Ultimately I wasn’t disappointed but my heart was in my mouth at times during the first half.

FIRST HALF

As I mentioned earlier, I missed the kick off and got to my seat just as Worcester’s hooker was being sent for a 10-minute break for a high tackle. Mr Rose clearly setting his stall out early for discipline! A few quick moves followed and were eventually rewarded with Tani Fuga going over for a try and Molly duly converting but I couldn’t help thinking we were making hard work of it. 7-0 on 5 mins.

With overlaps on each side due to Wuss over committing to the breakdown, Molly chose to try a grubber kick through the congested midfield, great if it had worked…..it didn’t! And we lost possession when there was a ‘nailed on’ try on either wing. After that, I feel a little complacency crept into Quins game with them not playing the phases and trying to score from the first receiver. It all got a bit muddled in the centres and with the monster that is Chris Gillies being allowed to stray offside and come in from the side and over the top of rucks, we surrendered turn over ball again and again. This is when I started to get a bit annoyed. When we had possession, we let it go due to taking the wrong option. Another passage of bland, slow play followed and the game seemed to go flat and an ‘A League’ vibe was coming into this game…COME ON QUINS….WAKE UP!!!!!

The wake up call came on 27 mins. Worcester, having not got much of the ball for the opening 20 started to put some phases together and with some excellent offloading and handling, Fellows scored a very well deserved try for Worcester, the extras were added and it was 7-7…Game on again! Quins did indeed wake up as a minute or so later Danny Care scored a flamboyant try with a flamboyant finish, molly converted and the author started to breath more easily. The Worcester pack was being given a torrid time by Quins and I was beginning to feel sorry for their young guns when time and again we opted to take the scrum when inside the Worcester HALF…not even in the 22. More quick ball followed and Chris Robshaw went over for try number 3. Molly misses but its OK as its now 19-7 after 34 minutes and that’s how it stayed in the first half. One more try would seal the bonus point but this game isn’t over yet!

After the half time entertainment of the Columbinas…it was great to see them naked again!...What? You went for a pint/cigarette and missed it??? Shame on you!!!....ONLY JOKING!!!!  I won’t mention the Etihad inflatable thing that you have to kick or throw rugby balls into….Who ever thought that would be entertaining? Max tried his best to inject some…well, just something into it, but its 5 minutes of my life I’m not going to get back!

SECOND HALF

Will Skinner made way for Nick Easter and David Strettle replaced Gonzalo Tiesi. Again Quins started brightly but seemed to be caught up in their own agenda and forced some moves instead of being a little more patient. Possession was squandered and A PROP!! From Worcester raced over for another well deserved converted try 3 minutes in…19-14…Oh Dear!!!! The first half angst was coming back and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the area around my seat.

Worcester’s 2^nd try was all they would manage to score as the seemingly bi-polar Quins team decided enough was enough and it was time to turn up the heat……and boy did they do that!

There was phase after phase of quick ball, sublime handling, rucking, counter rucking. We were camped 10 metres out, and with Ugo Monye down injured near the west touchline; the ball was thrown out wide to the east for….Ugo Monye to score???? It was of course Jordan Turner-Hall who touched down for the bonus point try. Molly misses again. After 50 minutes played, Quins start to ring the changes with Lambert coming on for Ross and Gomarsall coming on for Care. Both receiving a standing ovation from the now very excited crowd. Andy Gomarsall was inspirational and gave quick and decisive ball to the backs, perhaps quicker ball than Danny had been giving? The Back line was spraying the ball left and right and the Worcester defence, who had played admirably up to that point, crumbled. Ugo getting (properly) on the score sheet on 54 minutes, try unconverted. Things started going form bad to worse for Worcester when Kitchener was yellow carded on 57minutes, leaving the field to a chorus of ‘So Long, Farewell’ from The Sound of music..Very Funny! With them down to 14 men it wasn’t long before we scored again. This time Mike Brown going over for yet another unconverted try for Harlequins. Tani Fuga went off to another massive ovation to be replaced by Botha. Luveniyali replaced Molly Malone who had had a great game through the hands but not a good one with his feet. Would he have his kicking boots on? There’s 20 minutes to go. Could we get the 30-point cushion we need to go top of the league??? These questions would be answered with aplomb.

On 62 minutes we saw the return to action of Mike Ross. Ceri Jones was given a well-earned rest and a party atmosphere began to descend on The Stoop…At least in block FC! Quins were pulling Worcester all over the place. Nick Easter drove over for an excellent try on 68 mins and Luveniyali DID have his kicking boots on despite the Worcester players charging up too early…they’d been doing it all game but this time Mr Rose decided to pull them up for it. Evans made way for Robson and Harlequins really turned the screw on poor Worcester. Their heads had gone now and Quins were scoring tries for fun. Nick Easter going over again on 72 mins, duly converted. Worcester’s players seemed in disarray now with Wood in particular seeming to lose his cool and were substituted. It was champagne rugby all the way for the next 8 minutes. Great angles were ran, great ball from Gommars..HE MUST STAY!!!! And some sublime, cheeky and confident handling from everyone in a quartered shirt. It seems like I’m gushing…but so what! Tom Williams scores an excellent try, Luveniyali converts again…We’ve got the 30 point cushion we need to go top of the GP. How good could it get?? Another run of phases and exhibition running rugby and who would’ve thought? Nick Easter goes over for his Hat-Trick try, Luveniyali converts….We’ve scored 60 points!!! Mr Rose says enough is enough and blows the final whistle. Mike Brown is awarded Tackle Of The Match and Chris Robshaw is named Man Of The Match.

Full Time: Harlequins 60 Worcester 14

A great win…….But do they HAVE to put you through every single emotion???

I wouldn’t have it any other way!!!

COME ON QUINS!!!

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