To stretch that analogy yet further, reading recent CAW postings, a few of the supporters were becoming rather frosty. Do we detect a possible cold snap in the first week of January?

December saw four matches, two European, Parker Pen Cup, one Domestic, Powergen Cup and one crucial Premiership match. A hitherto Fortress Stoop was breached and sacked by a rampant French Legion.

For Quins it was a month where the same side did not take to the pitch two weeks running, as those who had been injured made their way back into the first team, and much to our chagrin the ineligibility of Captain Vos in the Parker Pen Cup. In some respects the team seem to have lost their way.

Our tally for December woefully reads: -

Points For: 38 Points Against: 91,. Won 1 lost 3 oh yes and just ONE try

In losing that match against Bath we dropped our Premiership position from a “heady” mid table seventh, back down to ninth, and the potential of flirting once more with the relegation zone.

Our defence continues to be strong but we just cannot seem to convert that pressure into points. Despite numerous rolling mauls, including one of some 40 metres we were unable to put down for a try. A rolling maul is a thing of beauty to behold BUT they are even more beautiful when we score a try from it, Ben Gollings aside, all our points in December were kicked. Was it little wonder we didn’t score at home against Stade Francais because Paul Burke was out injured? Whilst the chipping away with penalties won us the Powergen Cup Match, and for a while brought us back into contention in Paris at 16 –12, we must get back to scoring tries. In both the home games the opposition pounced on the early Christmas Presents that they d been gifted, to score tries. We also need to improve our basic passing skills before we try the fancy stuff!

December 7th Quins v Stade Francais L 0-26
Man of the Match as voted by CAW   Scott Bemand

“Quins Nilled by an Impressive Stade Francais”

Well who actually was playing today?

Kwin nominated the five players he felt had actually contributed to the game. Scott Bemand at 30% of the vote won CAW MotM, Nathan Williams followed with 26% and Jason Leonard with 15%. Yet 26% of the vote went to others, “this was the most inconclusive poll to date… ” Kwin.

DOK s 15-man poll agrees that Bemand, Williams and Leonard, were in contention for this award but the poll suggested that Tiatia, Diprose and Moore were also amongst those rated above average in this match, but their scores were just above average.

I think there are more individual views of player performance in this match than we've time to cover here. The supporters were united in their disappointment at the outcome of this match, after previous home performances.

We were beaten by the better side, but the score somewhat flattered Stade Francais, the difference being that they were able to capitalise on their chances when they presented themselves. We were certainly in the game for the first 25 minutes and how we all rue those missed opportunities, Oh why did Greenwood pass wide and miss out Satala when he had the best try scoring opportunity? That turned the game as far as I was concerned, however the SF defence was virtually impenetrable. We also sorely missed Codling in the lineouts; just how many of these did Stade steal? But on a brighter note this match saw the return of Pat Sanderson who came on as a replacement in the second half.

December 14th Stade Francais v Quins L 29-12
Man of the Match as voted by CAW No Poll

“The tale of the Odd Shaped Ball”

The return leg in Paris,

There was not a CAW vote for MotM for this game, I guess that this was either because we were all so disappointed to be out of Europe, or maybe because it took a long time for us all to dry out. ……from the Parisian rain that is!

We missed the presence of both Greenwood and Duncombe from the squad and the cup tied Vos, who sat, with his wife, watching the game, from the Presidentielle Stand surrounded by a large contingent of Diamond Geezers!

This match saw the return on Burke, which enabled us to get some points on the board. We even stole a brief early lead at 0 – 3! It was Burke’s kicking that kept chipping away at Stade's lead that at 16 – 12 we were still in with a chance of stealing the match rather than the tie. The bounce of the odd shaped ball, coupled with giving away too many penalties scuppered that plan. Stade's second try put the result beyond doubt. It was tries that we needed but there were none to be had. Once again, we were not able to press home our chances and the Stade Pack remained resolute in their defence of their try line. Despite the return of Codling, we were still having difficulty in winning the ball from our line outs

Indeed Ace, although yellow carded, was on the receiving end of a succession of off the ball incidents all unseen by the referee. My contenders for this Man of the Match would be Matt Moore and Nathan Williams, Moore, almost scored that elusive try and was sprinting down the wing to collect the ball for a run in but was defeated by the bounce. Nathan s kicking from defence was also good, despite the pppp persistent rain, and on balance he would get my vote.

Despite loosing, the travelling supporters we rewarded with an acknowledgement from the players who came down to the stands at the end of the match, to thank them for their attendance.

December 21st Quins v Leeds W 17-13
Man of the Match as voted by CAW Jim or was it Mark Evans

“This was no steal”

Today we witnessed a number of memorable events at the Stoop. Pride of place goes to that magnificent five (not seven), in the line up of replacements ready to take to the pitch. An inspirational set of substitutions some 59 minutes in to the match, “78 minutes does not influence”. This was the defining moment in finally ensuring the match outcome would finally swing our way, so Kwin, should the MotM have been Mark rather than Jim Evans .

Then as Nigel B perfectly summoned up, this match had “guts,commitment and concentration”. Which was was clearly visible by the constant “cloud of steam” visibly rising from the the pack throughout the afternoon., But once again we witnessed a number of elementary, errors, which saw yet another gifted try for our opposition and a magnificent 40 metre plus rolling maul, from the half way line which yet again came to nought, EVERYTIME!

Yes a win is a win, but once again we lacked invention and imagination, and it was the guts and determination that saw us through. To be honest, I was not Worried! I felt sure we would win. Leeds took their gifted try and were ahead, but after that they never looked like scoring another try (unless we gave them another early Christmas present). Once again Paul Burke just kept on chipping away at the ten-point difference (3 –13) and brought us back into contention, and clinched by that Gollings try.

December 28th Bath v Quins L 23-9
Man of the Match as voted by CAW Ace Tiatia

“Quins cleaned up by Bath”

Another game to forget?

I did not make the journey for this game, so I’ve had to rely on press reports and Kev T’s excellent match report on CAW and there is nothing more that I can add. .

Once again the MotM Poll was inconclusive, but awarded to Ace as he gained the highest percentage of votes for a named player. As Kwin states this was “A very small vote with a massive none-of-the-above option. In the absence of many (any?) alternative nominations on the message board I interpret that as a protest vote” or indeed apathy or maybe this was just down to the continuing holiday period. From postings it seemed as if it was Ace who was the only one who had his head up at the end of the match. Ace has had his critics but for me his play has been consistent this season, and he has been unlucky to pick up so many yellow cards, Williams and Codling were also recognised in the Bath poll. It was good to see Luger back in the first XV, but it appears the rest of the squad forgot he was on the pitch and he had a quiet game.

General feeling was that we did not play very well and we missed two try scoring opportunities, one of which was well documented in the national press. The reports once again show that with Burkes kicking, we were still in the match at 16-9.

Others nominees for December Player of the Month

Writing this column over the past few months it is interesting to note that it is the same names that are being nominated, Those who play in the pack and in defence have dominated this poll so far this season. Again this month it has ben hard to find anyone outside these areas to nominate, maybe it is because most of our current game play is these areas.

It is good to see the additions of Bemand, and Evans in this line up, along with some of the regulars. I have added Paul Burke for his goal kicking efforts in enabling us to score some points during the month, however he does need to improve his passing, and mix the play.

Essentially we've seen the same errors in all of our December matches, gifting of points, through unforced errors, not being able to score from sustained rolling mauls, inability to get sufficient ball out to the wings, together with the basic handling errors. BUT we’ve been able to stay in the game through Burke’s kicking. Essentially the same match report could have been used for all four games this month! Despite the great names we have in the Squad, we‘ve not been able to name the same side two weeks running and this must have had some effect on the way the team has played, although it should not be a factor.

Maybe we are just a fair weather team, who don t like playing in the rain!

Finally I d like to wish Laurent Gomez a very speedy recovery of his injured leg. Although not heavily featured in this poll Laurent has been a stalwart at No 3 since he joined Quins, and will be sorely missed over the coming months, but it is good to see Jon Dawson come in to replace him.

My nominations for Harlequins Player of the month are therefore;

Scott Bemand - Man of the Match v Stade Francais (home)

Nathan Williams - Man of the Match v Stade Francais (away)

Jim Evans - Man of the Match v Leeds

Ace Tiatia - Man of the Match v Bath

Paul Burke - for his kicking that kept us in touch

Tony Diprose - continued consistency of performance throughout

So we move into 2003 in a far more uncomfortable position, than we were just one month indeed one game ago, once more we are flirting with the relegation zone. We have to start winning away from home against. The run in to the end of the season will be tough, BUT surely there is enough drive within the team to ensure that we will break that away jinx along the way.

So to January, there should be no excuse to make “Heavy Weather” with just two matches to play and more importantly both of them at Home.

The first a Premiership match against Bristol a crucial match which we absolutely need to win in order not to fall any further in the table. Three weeks later there is that small matter of the Powergen Cup Quarter Final against Leicester.

We all hope that history repeats yet again, we have PLENTY of time to prepare whilst our opponents battle on in Europe! There should be no reason why we will not proceed to the semi final of the Powergen Cup.

Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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