They did so by 34 points to 18 points.

Hope soon became expectation as Quins took the game to their opponents. They turned a number of Irish scrums, depriving them of their advantage and penning them into their own midfield. Despite good pressure and attempts to attack the Irish line, the defence held firm and it was not until the twentieth minute that a penalty on the 22 metre line in front of the posts was successfully kicked by Jarvis to open the scoring. 3 - 0.

A series of concerted attacks by the backs, with Rob Jewell and Henry Barratt well to the fore, showed good handling skills but were eventually stopped when a second penalty was awarded to Quins and converted by Jarvis (whose kicking style seemed to indicate that he was being coached by Paul Burke). 6 - 0.

This increase in the Quins score seemed to persuade the backs to further running attacks and gained a scrum about 10 metres from the try-line and touch in the left hand corner. The ball was moved right to the centre and duly recycled when the defence repulsed the attack. From the resulting breakdown it was moved left and good passing and strong running saw Rob Jewell score in the corner. The conversion was missed. 11 - 0 after 34 minutes. Shortly afterwards the Exiles opened their scoring from a penalty kicked by Armitage . 11 - 3.

The Irish scrum continued to be disrupted and turned. Nevertheless, their defence held firm assisted by Quins’ errors. A penalty to Quins was kicked into the corner but the resulting rolling maul was stopped and the ball held up. Over eagerness in the resulting scrum lost possession, but a slight physical difference of opinion between two forwards led to another penalty which Jarvis converted to leave the score at 14 - 3 at the interval.

After only three minutes of the second half a penalty to Irish was kicked by Armitage to narrow the score to 14 - 6. This appeared to galvanise Quins to attack. A kick and chase led to a penalty inside the Irish 22 metre line which was kicked to touch for a line-out close to the try-line. The resulting maul rolled over the line with Pablo Cardinali touching down for the try. The conversion was missed. 19 - 6. After 15 minutes, another penalty brought the score to 22 - 6.

At about this time, for reasons which were not apparent, scrums became uncontested. The effect was to give Irish quicker and cleaner possession than they had enjoyed from these set piece situations previously in the match and they began to move the ball more confidently and launch a series of attacks which eventually led to a try scored by Appleford. Once again the conversion was missed. 22 - 11.

Irish were beginning to pull the game back. From having been exhibiting all the faults which their senior side had shown on Sunday, they started to achieve some penetration. An interception by Nick Greenstock allowed him to run in unopposed from 40 metres. Yet again the additional points were not added. 27 - 11.

The Irish began to press and from deep in the Quins 22 metre area Armitage was able to run in and touch down between the posts. He converted his try to bring the score to 27 - 18.

Once again Quins were stung into action and on the half-hour a maul which had driven forward nearly 40 metres was pulled down. The penalty was kicked to touch but in the resulting catch and drive,. Possession was lost and the ball cleared. A kick through into the in goal area was touched down by the Irish back, but from the resulting drop-out the ball was kicked into touch and a scrum on the 22 metre line allowed Quins to keep pressing.

With only a few minutes remaining, the ball came to Slemen from the uncontested scrum and his precise kick through allowed Greenstock to run onto the ball for his second try. Jarvis added the points and the final score was 34 - 18.

NEC Harlequins : D. Slemen, M. Moore, H. Barrett, N. Greenstock, R. Jewell, A. Jarvis, S. Bemand, S. Walton, J. Hayter, P. Cardinali, K. Rudzki, J. Evans, D. Griffin, L. Sherriff, A. Mockford
Replacements: B. Hopkins, T. Parker, R. Winters, K. Horstmann, M. Powell, A. Reay, M. Wilcocks.

London Irish : D. Armitage, K. Barrett, G. Appleford, N. Mordt, E. Hoadley, M. Cannon, K. Brennan, D. Wheatley, I. Clunis, P. Durant, K. Roche, G. Delaney, J. Cockle, M. Haslett, J. Docherty
Replacements: A. Halsey, J. Greenwood, J. Lake, I. Critchley, N. McClelland, W. Hemsley, B. Acton

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