Last week it became four wins from four games, collecting four points. With the three clubs at the top of the division breaking away from the pack last week, by 5 o’clock on Saturday afternoon it needs to be Five from Five with Five! Quins have to consolidate their position this weekend, especially playing at home, and with Cornish Pirates currently top, away to third placed Bedford, there is the opportunity to reduce the breakaway group to just two clubs. Both Pirates and Bedford are our greatest threats at the moment, with just two league points separating the three clubs. Like Harlequins they are both unbeaten, the Pirates pillaged a four try winning bonus point in their sacking of Exeter which sent them to the top, whilst Bedford won down the road at London Welsh, also collecting a four try bonus point. This is probably the best start to any season that Harlequins have had, yet the pessimists among us believe that rather than four points won last week, it was one point lost, such is the expected closeness of this season. What we'd given for four wins out of four games last year in the Premiership! The ND 1 championship is a marathon not a sprint, and we have to maintain our position with the front runners, pacing ourselves with the squad rotation, racking up the points difference, and collecting a bonus point where possible but above all be ready to pick off the other front runners when we meet head to head, and maintain that winning streak. We will see just how good Quins are in late November and early December when we meet Pirates at home followed by Bedford away.

Doncaster won promotion to ND 1 in April this year. The promotion was there eighth rise in just fifteen seasons, rising from the Yorkshire leagues and emphasizing their determination to succeed in Rugby Union. Their Director of Rugby is ex-Springbok Pieter Muller who tool up the position in 2004 after a period of playing for Cardiff Blues.

Not wishing to sound too blasé about Saturdays match, but Harlequins who have the best defensive record in the division, leaking just 47 points, with a goal difference of 90, meet the team with the most porous defence in the league. New comers, Doncaster have seen 139 points put passed them in the four matches played, and have a negative goal difference of -54. In their opening game of the season Cornish Pirates put 40 points, including five tries, past them. Last weekend, in a reversal of their fortunes, they surprised many when they defeated Coventry, (our opponents next week), at Castle Park by 31 – 29, in front of a crowd of just 861. Reading accounts of the match Coventry scored three quick tries and raced into a 19 – 5 lead before Doncaster started to claw their way back into the match and taking the lead with 16 unanswered points in a seven minute spell either side of half time and with Coventry reduced to 14 men. Despite loosing the lead again Doncaster won the match with a 77^th minute penalty. They obviously were more desperate to win the match, than the home side whose fans felt aggrieved that Doncaster were not penalised for consistently being offside and bringing mauls down, when Coventry were close to crossing the line. The spectre of poor officiating at this level appears to have raised it head again.

Little is known about the Doncaster team, other that their hooker is ex Quin Johnny Roddam, and prop Richard List is an ex Lion. Pieter Muller, the Canadian International inside center signed from Coventry earlier this week, and it is possible that he will be named in the Squad to play on Saturday as he expected to contribute greatly to their game.

Up at Nottingham, Andrew Mehrtens kicked Quins into an 18-3 half time lead a lead that they began to loose their grip on as an organized Nottingham began to fight their way back, to within eight points before two late tries by Monye and Keogh, won the game for Harlequins. It was another win but there are still signs that there is still much room for improvement and as such Quins could be described as "trying"… on the patience of their supporters.

Once more the team selection is changed from the week before with some ten changes to last week’s starting line up. Comments on the board query some of the selection, whether or not Richards is still experimenting is unclear, but certainly such a squad rotation keeps players on their toes and fighting for their places on the team sheet. Harlequins 'As' also had another stonking win on Monday night demolishing London Irish, and a number of those players start this week. It should be noted that team selection is also determined by injuries, and it is comforting to know that Harlequins have the luxury of being able to rest players after some minor knocks to ensure they are fresh for the more hardened battles to come before Christmas. Thus Mehrtens, Easter, Monye, and Williams are rested this week, but with Jarvis, Diprose, Amesbury and Duffy in your armoury as cover who are to be fielded alongside Harder and Greenwood there should be little to worry about. I expect to see a running game as a very fast set of backs that have been selected. There is also a very solid back up plan on the bench should the need arise with Fuga, Nebbett, Evans, Guest, Vass Deane and Brown. It may have appeared odd, in recent weeks, to see Monye, Harder and Greenwood run out with the Second XV on a Monday night. However, not only has it given confidence to the youngsters that they played with, but has also given them all experience, with the 'old' and the 'new' bonding to form true team spirit, and to be able to perform together as we shall see on Saturday afternoon. Academy players Tosh Masson at centre and Chris Robshaw in the back row make their first XV debut, with summer signing Pablo Bouza making his first start in the second row.

The team selection this week excites me to see a number of the Academy deservedly in the starting line up and on the bench on their own merit. They inject much passion, enthusiasm and dynamism to the game, and although not the rounded article just yet they are given the motivation to succeed and improve their game by playing at this level. These are the Harlequins of years to come, Harlequins who will be ready to meet the challenges of the Premiership next year, should promotion be achieved. Although the other familiar team names are being rested, they will feature on Monday night in the match against Bath United. It is clear that Quins have their sights firmly on the National As title as well as the National Division 1 winners, with a squad so full of strength in depth, and knowledge of interacting with who ever they find themselves alongside.

I cannot see any other result than a Harlequins win on Saturday, and a big one, but it needs to be a convincing performance and we do not want a repeat of the first half we played against Newbury. Most importantly we need to collect the full five points that are on offer. It is great to see that two coaches full of Doncaster supporters will be joining us on Saturday afternoon, I m sure they’ll enjoy their match day experience at The Stoop.

After the match on Saturday the Harlequins Ladies take the field at 5.00 pm against a team Ipswich, who will certainly feel at home with the Green King Ale on offer. The ladies will be pleased with your support.

Finally I m sure “our old friend” Steve Lander, who is refereeing this match will get a rousing reception from his fan base in the West Stand when he runs out. It is well over a year since he last graced us with his presence at the Stoop, and with all the changes he won’t recognise the place. I just hope he is happy with his changing room!

Come on you Quins!

NEC Harlequins:
15. Gavin Duffy,14. George Harder,13. Will Greenwood, 12. Tosh Masson11. Charlie Amesbury, 10. Adrian Jarvis,9. Steve So’oialo,1. Alex Rogers ,2. Jimmy Richards,3. Lorne Ward, 4. Pablo Bouza,5. Simon Miall,6.Chris Robshaw 7. Andre Vos (c.),, 8. Tony Diprose
Replacements : 16. Tani Fuga, 17. Ricky Nebbett 18. Jim Evans 19. Tom Guest 20. Ian Vass, 21. Mel Deane 22. Mike Brown

Doncaster: not announced but expected to be
15.John Boden, 14.Donovan van Vuuren, 13.Brad Hunt, 12.Duncan Murray, 11.Luke Nabaro, 10. Jon Benson, 9.Charlie Harrision, 1.Steve Barretto, 2.Johnny Roddam, 3.Ngalu Tau, 4.Dan Cook, 5.Ed Norris, 6.Russell Earnshaw ©, 7.Simon Grainger, 8. Dan Montagu
Replacements: 16. Richard List, 17. Steve Boden, 18. Tom Davies, 19. Jimmy Rule,20. Oliver Cook, 21.Llyr Lane, 22. Michael Wood


Match Officials:
Referee: Mr. Steven Lander
Touch Judges: Gareth Copsey, Roger Baileff

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon