By Charlotte Coldrey
October 5 2004

It was the Worcester vs. Harlequins game: The game that we had to win. As I put the best shirt in the world on I started to feel extremely excited!

We got to the ground and my voice was ready to scream for Pat and of course the Mighty Quins. Dad got his first pint of Guinness which he couldn’t resist, seeing as our seats were right by the Guinness bar (I wonder how that worked out)!

The game started with my friend Flick and I screaming like crazy for the Quins with me adding a little “I love you Pat”! (Dad’s edit – the noise could have been heard at The Stoop!). The action started right in front of us and the tackle was horrific especially when Hinshelwood held onto the ball and the ref didn’t do anything so I was screaming out “C-MON REF YOU CAN’T DO THAT HE WAS HOLDING ONTO THE BALL” (did anyone hear me)!

I was shouting so hard that it turned into a scream!
We thought that Worcester would be easy to beat, but we should have known better. And wasn’t it just so typical that Pat scored their first try. When their second try came I started to get worried. Luke then scored a try to make the score 14-7. Things weren’t too awful because we only needed another try to make the score level.

Half time came and I wasn’t too upset with the score and I still had the confidence that we were going to win.

The second half started with me on the edge of my seat praying for the Quins to get another try but it never came. The tries from Worcester kept on coming and coming while the cheers from me kept getting louder and louder. My grandpa (who is a Rotherham fan) said to me that our boys need to learn the basics, like not kicking the ball to the opponents at every opportunity; I think his words were wise.

When Worcester scored that last try all I watched was Pat waving his hands in the air and cheering his crowd. That was it, all I saw was anger. How could he be so arrogant, so selfish? So as the man of the match was called out I shouted out “boo, Pat smells!” and then the lady in front told me to be quiet so I replied to her “no I’m going to shout for my team” but she didn’t turn round!

The final whistle went and the only thing that went threw my mind was “we’re going to get relegated. All our players are going to go.” I couldn’t believe it. Then the speakers came on saying “We’re not bottom of the league anymore” and then it sunk in. I sat it my seat and watched as Pat walked round with the most disgusting smirk on his face that I had ever seen. I really don’t see what I ever saw in him now and now when ever I think of him I clench my fists with anger.

We went on the pitch after to throw the ball around to take my mind off things. A couple of the other Quins supporters joined in with us.

It was time to go and I was glad that I was getting out of there! On the long journey home I was trying to plot my revenge on Pat. Has anyone got anything?

We got home and I felt very defeated. Let’s hope we’ll do better next weekend.

Dad suggested we went to the A team game at London Irish to cheer ourselves up – and for him to have another Guinness! What a great decision, I got all my home work done (1 1/2 hours of it), and we drove to the game. It was really good being able to stand so close to the game and be so close to the action. Quins were brilliant. It’s a different kind of game; they all seemed under less pressure and were enjoying themselves. Let’s hope the 1^st XV can start to enjoy their game soon too.

I would really recommend everyone to go to the A team games – they’re great and we’re winning!