The ingredients were there for an entertaining match – both sides had their EPS players back, though Quins were still missing a number of players to injury; both sides like to play an expansive game and Saints were riding high in the table, with Quins aiming to be in the mix for a Heineken Cup place. Which team would rise to the top?

Quins started the game from the boot of Nick Evans. Unfortunately I missed the action as it was in the North West side of the ground and I sit in the South East and hundreds and thousands of people were late to their seats. From what I did see, Evans found a gap, sent Strettle left, Dickson (Quins) dummied and Quins were awarded the ensuing penalty. Evans duly converted and after 3 minutes, Quins were 3-0 up.

Guest collected the restart, and Evans cleared. Stevenson and Downey made friends (handbags according to my notes!) and the ref didn’t seem to know. Saints were awarded a scrum, which Quins turnovered. Quins were subsequently awarded a penalty, which Evans again converted. 7 mins down, Quins 6-0 up.

Following the restart, Saints were penalised from the Quins clear-out. Quins were penalised from the resulting scrum, but I wasn’t sure of the raisin. Quins were penalised again at the Saints line-out and Myler missed the penalty.

Quins rediscovered the maul in this game and used it very effectively. Evans aimed a cross field kick at Brown, who was adjudged to have been held up. Following a 5-metre scrum, Quins scored the try through Mike Brown. It was the yeast he deserved. Evans converted and after 20 minutes, Quins led 13-0.

For the remainder of the 1^st half, Quins were chasing a second try, which proved to be elusive. There was some aerial ping-pong, which Brown put an end to. Saints were awarded a penalty at half time, but this was missed again. At half time, the score was 13-0. Would Quins roux not scoring more points? Would Saints want a slice of the action in the 2^nd half? Only time would tell.

At half time we were ‘treated’ to the music of Jedward and Glee. I’m sure the youngsters at the ground approved. I was so cold I was dancing along. The shame.

The second half brought another missed Saints penalty. After 48 minutes, Saints finally found their way onto the scoreboard. Myler had a crumby start, but he wasn’t going to keep missing all day.

The ref’s inexperience showed in the second half when a Saints player was being treated by the physios. He allowed play to continue, despite it taking place very close to the injury and only when a player collided with a physio, did he blow his whistle. Those around me couldn’t understand why play hadn’t been stopped sooner. Hopefully next time it will be.

I found the next part of play frustrating. Quins were pinged for crossing. Technically it was crossing. However, the player with the ball (sorry, I don’t know who it was) had no choice but to go the way he did, as a Saints player was making himself known to a Quins player. It may have been the right decision (my knowledge of the laws with regards crossing and fisticuffs is non-existent) but it seemed unfair.

Myler converted a penalty on 55 minutes. It seemed to have come after Saints blocking. So it was just Quins who would be pinged for that particular infringement. Still, Quins were still beating Saints, 13-6.

After an hour, Sam Smith replaced an injured Tom Williams, who had played well and was very unlucky to go down. Evans missed a penalty after 65 minutes.

Saints had a penalty 2 minutes later. Mallinder had felt there was so mocha he could take with Myler and had replaced him with Geraghty, who missed the penalty. Perhaps he had forgotten his kicking boots too?

George Lowe was penalised for holding on, but I was surprised the penalty went against Quins. I thought it could have easily have gone against Saints. After all, you are supposed to release the player once you’ve made the tackle. Aren’t you?

Lowe was instrumental in the next phase of play I noted. He kicked a ball down the touch line to chase it and possibly score a try. He didn’t get the chance, however, as he was taken out by a Saints player. The ref and touch judge decided there was nothing in it and waved play on. I went nuts. I also joined in the booing of the ref. I don’t like booing the ref, after all, if there’s no ref, there’s no game. However, they are not always infallible or right and I had to vent my frustration somehow.

Soon after, Saints were awarded a penalty and went for the corner – a converted try would draw the game. Quins defended heroically. For the last minute and a half of the game, cries of ‘HARLEQUINS’ reverberated round the ground. We all wanted this.

On the strike of 80 minutes, Saints were awarded another penalty. They couldn’t do anything with it, but knocked on the ball, there was another fight and the ref in all the confusion blew his whistle. We’d done it! We’d won the game!

The positives were the forwards, they were immense and JK was suitably proud of the front 5 in the post-match conference. The defence was fantastic, we didn’t concede a try. There were moments of fantastic play. The intensity was there and they really wanted it. Disappointingly, we didn’t score after the 20^th minute. We did create a number of chances and we need to take them, but hopefully if we can get a few wins under our belts, the more we create, the more we’ll take.

I’ve just realised, I haven’t named my man of the match. I was very impressed with Cairns, he had a tremendous game. The front five all played well. For the hour he was on the pitch, Williams played well. It was comforting to have our captain fantastic back. But, my man of the match was Nick Evans. With a pack going forward and on the front foot, he demonstrated what a good player he is. I think we’re lucky to have him.

My overall thoughts of the game? I d'eclair, it felt good to win again!

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