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The A League Resumes: Bath United
By AlanQuin
March 20 2006
At a time when there is no match for the First XV and the only other thing to contemplate is the possibility of another pusillanimous performance by the so-called England team, the keen Harlequin supporter can look forward to a return to The Recreation Ground.
Situated in the very centre of the city of Bath, on the banks of the Avon and in sight of the Roman Bath, the Pump Room and the Abbey this former stronghold of the top team of English Rugby has fallen on harder times. Harlequins have not fared too well there. Since leagues began Quins have won there only twice and those who were present will remember the sense of wonder at the result for clearly the gods had gone on strike! But in the short history of the Zurich/Guinness A League Harlequins have never lost at Bath and only once against Bath at The Stoop. That was earlier this season by a single score.

Monday evening sees the A team travel to Bath for the first of three “must-win” matches if they are to head the Southern section of the league and reach the final against Leicester on 17th and 24th April. It is the last away match with Saracens coming on 3rd April and Gloucester, only two points behind in the table, the following week. Both those matches will be played at Imber Court. Curiously these three matches are against the three teams to which the A team lost in the return fixture earlier in the season.

What then are the prospects? Since their last defeat at Kingsholm in October, the A team have won all four league matches and three friendly matches against the two Universities and Northern Suburbs from Sydney NSW.. They have scored freely in most matches despite having to rely from time to time on players borrowed from Esher, due to England U21 and U19 calls on the Academy players who are the backbone of the side.

There is still a treble at stake to be won. Promotion to the Premiership is virtually assured. The National Trophy Final is there to be won. The Guinness A League opens the fascinating prospect of the only two teams to have won this trophy, Harlequins and Leicester contesting the two-leg final and giving Quins a chance of an unique treble.

So the prospects for Bath will depend as always upon injuries and the availability of players returning from international duty. If the team is in the strength and mood that it was against London Irish last month then I expect to see Quins win. Bath has a long injury list and international calls too. They have lost six out of ten matches in this competition.

The match kicks off at 7.30 p.m. on Monday 20th March at The Recreation Ground, Bath. Admission – usually Free.

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