By AlanQuin
October 11 2009

Harlequins’ European campaign began with a whimper in defeat rather than the statement of intent and victory that had been hoped for.   Harlequins have never defeated Cardiff in the Heineken Cup and they failed again as the home side ended winning by 20 points to 6.

Once again it was a case of what might have been.  A physical first half with the Blues sustaining a series of injuries and in which both sides defended strongly without either producing any real threat to the other’s try line produced three successful penalty kicks and two more which missed from Nick Evans to leave Cardiff leading

6 – 3 at half time.

The succession of injuries saw Cardiff use most of their replacements in the first half while Harlequins’ most threatening attack was brought to an end by an injury to Paul Tito which stopped play for several minutes until he was stretchered from the field.

The second half stuttered more rapidly into life as from a penalty attempt from well inside his own half, Halfpenny hit the post.  Quins cleared but a counter attack led by Blair and carried on by Roberts and Shanklin was finished by the winger, James, crossing for a try that Blair converted. 

The Blues might have gone further ahead five minutes later when a Blair penalty hit a post.  Halfpenny, too, missed with another long-range attempt.  But a successful kick from Evans reduced the lead to 13 – 6 with the final quarter to go.  Quins now increased the pressure and for much of the remainder of the match were deep in the Blues twenty-two.  For long minutes they were camped on the line and only the most committed Cardiff defence and some less than sympathetic refereeing prevented the try.  A dropped pass by Mike Brown with the line at his mercy did not help.

With time running out and with only a bonus point looking likely, even that was snatched away.  A long, speculative kick ahead from Jones was chased by Halfpenny

Who easily outpaced Mike Brown for the touchdown and the try that, converted by Blair, ended the match.

After the match John Kingston was grilled critically by the press about the resting of Quins three England players, Easter, Care and Monye under the EPS agreement.  While that decision can be criticised, Guest, So’oialo and Camacho, the latter two also internationals, are hardly poor replacements.  But Kingston was unrepentant.  “It was my decision” he said while pointing out that after three league games Quins had only one league point and next week they face Toulouse at home.

Will Skinner, too, emphasised the need to win home games in the competition.  “We realise that we had opportunities, but we just weren't clinical enough. They stopped us from getting quick ball during the last 10 minutes - they played to the referee very well - and we got frustrated and lost a bit of patience. We have got to be more clinical. We know it will be tough next weekend, but we will up for it. You have to win your home games in this competition."

John Kingston said he was "absolutely agog" at people who still wanted to talk about “Bloodgate” saying "It is beyond me why the subject is still being raised. We move on."

Cardiff: B Blair; G Thomas (L Halfpenny 23), T Shanklin, J Roberts, T James; S Norton-Knight, R Rees (G Cooper 79); J Yapp (G Powell 29-38, S Hobbs 73), G Williams, T Filise (Powell 65), B Davies (D Jones 32), P Tito (Capt, R Sowden-Taylor 38), A Powell, S Warburton, X Rush.
Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle, G Tiesi, T Masson, G Camacho (G Lowe 37); N Evans, S So’oialo; C Jones, T Fuga (C Brooker 60), M Lambert (J Andress 60), L Stevenson, J Evans (S O’Connor 60), C Robshaw, W Skinner (Capt), T Guest.
Referee: A Lewis (Ireland). Att: 11,127.