The sun shone brightly on the good crowd, officially 2325, in the somewhat old fashioned venue at Myrefield, the home of Old Watsonians.  The conditions were right for good running rugby and that is what the good crowd hoped to see. It was a long time coming.

The first half was pedestrian, with both sides guilty of unforced errors and much kicking for territory.  These events were frequently punctuated by frequent blasts of referee Dave Pearson’s whistle as Quins racked up a substantial penalty count of which Chris Paterson took advantage, scoring three penalties, although unusually he missed with another attempt before being replaced at half-time.

Quins did get the one try of the half when a typical quick tap penalty by Care was moved quickly to Camacho, on to Easter and finally to Robson who forced his was across the line to score.  Nick Evans, notably free of bandages, missed the conversion.

At half-time, Edinburgh led by 9 – 5.

Edinburgh made a number of substitutions for the second half while Quins came out unchanged.  Quins clearly wanted to step up the pace and started to move the ball quickly, but their first attempt, from another tap penalty, failed when the final pass to Comacho was a poor one and he could not get a hand on the ball.  Keeping up the pressure in their opponents twenty-two, an attacking scrum drove the Scots back and Nick Easter went over from the base of the scrum for a good try.  Evans added the conversion and Quins had regained the lead after five minutes of the half.

Edinburgh, despite the disruptions caused by their substitutions, began to probe hard against the Quins defence and eventually created an overlap on the right allowing Houston to run in unopposed for their sole try. Laidlaw added the conversion. 

Quins’ response was to attack and they drove upfield and although the line was crossed, the ball was held up. From the ensuing five metre scrum, Quins again pushed the Scots forwards backward and again Nick Easter scored from the base of the scrum and Evans converted.  After seventeen minutes of the half Quins led 16 – 19.

The Quins’ forwards were totally dominant and the Scots’ scrum was failing. A good break from Easter and Botha, who had replaced Fuga, took play into the Scots’ twenty-two where they conceded a penalty.  Quins’ called for a scrum and duly demolished the home pack   When they again called a scrum for the ensuing penalty they were themselves penalised for boring in  

Harlequins continued to attack and created a four man overlap from which they ought to have scored b ut the final pass was forward.  Undeterred, they attacked again and this tme the overlap allowed Tiesi to cross for the try.  Evans was again successful with the conversion.

With time running out and the game won, Quins had an attacking scrum.  This time Gareth Williams, who had replaced Care, moved the ball rapidly left from the scrum finding its way to Sam Smith who dived over in the corner for the try.  Evans successful conversion was the final kick of the match.

With still plenty to work on before the season begins in earnest, the performance was satisfactory if not excellent.  The newcomers gave a good account of themselves with Andress causing difficulties for his opponent in the scrums.  Camacho will be a useful winger and Chisholm did well enough at full-back.

Edinburgh: C Paterson, A Turnbull, B Cairns (J Houston 40 min), A Easson, M Robertson (T Visser 40 min); D Blair (R Samson 40 min, B Cairns 65 min) G Laidlaw; K Traynor (A Jacobsen 40 min), A Kelly (S Crombie 65 min), R Grant (D Young 40 min), C Hamilton (McLeod 40 min), S Turnbull (N Patrick 33 min), F McKenzie, A MacDonald (R Grant 40 min), A Hogg (S Cross 40 min).

Harlequins: R Chisholm (W. Luveniyali 63 min), D Strettle (S Smith 65 min), G Tiesi, J Turner-Hall (T Masson 28 min), G Camacho (G.Lowe 63 min); N Evans, D Care (G. Williams 65 min) ; C Jones (J. Marler (65 min), T Fuga (G.Botha  52 min), J Andress (M. Lambert 52 min), J Percival, G Robson (L. Stevenson 61 min), C Robshaw (T Guest 65 min), N McMillan, N Easter.(Capt).

Referee: D. Pearson RFU

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