But that score led to an equally exciting 20-minute period of extra time with UCS scoring an intercepted breakaway try in the last minutes.

UCS currently sit third in the Herts/Middlesex Division 1 league table, where Quins Amateurs are aspiring to play next season if we gain promotion this season. On the strength of this performance, the Amateurs would give very good account in the higher division and justifiably deserve the right to earn promotion. 

Quins were starting with a few absentees from the regular squad, but the deputies stepped up several gears to contribute every ounce of effort to produce a thrilling spectacle of running rugby.

The pace of the game was fervent from the start and Quins were the first to settle, using the wind in our favour to pressurise the visitors. It looked highly likely that Quins would be the first on the scoreboard until UCS created an overlap on the right to give them a 5-0 lead after ten minutes.

Back came Quins from the restart and following a further sustained period of ten minutes pressure, Adam Wallace at full back took the ball at full tilt to scythe through the UCS defence for possible the Quins best try of the season so far. Webster converted to give the Amateurs the lead 7 -5.

Quins were gaining in strength and dictating the way the game was being played. Phil Thompson had quite simply a superb game; towering and secure in the line-out, he was exemplary in protecting the scrum half at set pieces, setting up driving mauls from the base of the scrum or ruck, or winning turnover ball from the opposition. He was ably supported, notably by lock Kevin Boyle, hooker Dan Camacho and prop Lucian Roberts, whose game has improved beyond measure this season to secure automatic selection at tight head.

Further pressure paid dividends for Quins as Ross Webster converted a penalty to help Quins turn round 10-5 ahead at half time.

Soon after the restart, Ross Webster improved the scoreboard in Quins’ favour when he charged down a UCS clearance on their line and pounced on the ball to score. He converted to give Quins a healthy lead at 17-5.

Sadly, as has sometimes happened when taking the lead against strong opposition, the Amateurs went off the boil at the beginning of the second half. Losing three scrums against the head, together with poor tackling from Quins and some incisive running from UCS had them scoring two tries in the space of five minutes, the second being a carbon copy of Quins first try. With both tries converted, this gave UCS the lead again at 17-19.

All was looking lost when UCS scored a late penalty but Quins rallied marvellously to tie the game in the dying seconds with a try by Ben Fretwell in the right hand corner. The conversion was blown mercilessly off course to set up the gruelling period of twenty minutes of extra time which UCS won with the intercepted try in the dying seconds, which was converted to run out winners by 22-29.

Harlequins Amateurs: 1. Lawrence (Newman) 2. Camacho 3. Roberts 4. Curry 5. Boyle 6. Glanville 7. Farrant 8. Thompson (Vice Capt.) 9. Wigginton (Malone) 10. Webster (Capt.) 11. Williams (Wigley) 12. Hurst 13. Cameron 14. Fretwell 15. Wallace (Reed).

Harlequins Amateurs scorers: Tries: Wallace, Webster, Fretwell. Conversions: Webster (2). Penalty: Webster.

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