By The Prof
October 25 2002

What an interesting week it has been, how many would have predicted what happened? Obviously I am talking about the 1st team result - Quins defeated Caerphilly by 53 points away from home but, when a cricket score was predicted, at home we struggled to win. It was definitely a disappointing display but what positives can be found? Well first of all we won, taking our run of victories to three – Newcastle and the two Caerphilly games. There was a large crowd present (4000+, BTW Evs had predicted a crowd of only 3000) even though it was a dead game.

Seb Fitzgerald had his first start for the firsts and his half back partner Nick Duncombe played a blinder until he was pulled off by the management and replaced by Bemand. Quins’ other scrum half also got into the action but not in his usual position – Powell ended up playing flanker, another good target for a trivia question in years to come. Nathan Williams again kicked well this time under more pressure than the previous week. In the pack the star was Jim Evans who showed his pace to score a try – that’s two in two games, Ace managed to get through the whole game without collecting a card which was good to see.

The Quins and Caerphilly fans again enjoyed each other’s company in the bar and the Tom Jones impersonator was well received by both sides.

The amateurs lost but enjoyed their game against the Pacific Islanders and posted a good score against a team that have been sweeping all before them this season. The Cavaliers played Grasshoppers IIIs and scored a massive 74 points to win.

The Ladies played Reading and went 19 points ahead with three well taken tries, sadly they lost momentum for the final 20 minutes and ended up drawing the game without adding to their score. The Ladies’ pack was awesome in the tight – the front row devastated their opposition. The lineouts went well again too, with Viks again doing a Codders impersonation – stealing three lineouts and hurting her leg again in the process. Leah Carey scored a brace of tries and Kate Sinfield got on the scoresheet with two conversions, Ladies newcomer Helen Cushion scored her first try for Quins.

Another thing that was good to see was the people who climbed the highest mountain in North Africa to raise money for Whizz-Kidz come on to the pitch at half time. Among the group of players, staff and supporters that took part were our very own boarders: RugbyBird, Terry, Lou, Sharon & SimonC – heartiest congratulations to you all. And don’t forget to read RugbyBird’s final instalment of her account of the trip in the programme at the bath game, be warned it might make grown men and women weep!

All in all we should be happy with what happened, three of the four teams who played won, the 1st team will now be playing in Paris in December, the Ladies were well supported on a pretty grim day, the Amateurs enjoyed their game and put in a good performance, the Cavaliers won by 67 points, and the Caerphilly fans seem to have thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Stoop.

Finally congratulations to Burkey, Midge and their partners for the birth of their children.