By Billy Hamilton
September 18 2002

Well the losing streak, stretching back to last season, has been ended. Reports of last week’s game say that the score actually flattered Saracens and we could have had another two or three tries. All the players played their hearts out and those of whom we had doubts have come good. It is no longer a time to look back but to look forward. We now go into this week’s game with the Quins with a renewed confidence for the future.

Our record against Quins is excellent. They have not beaten us in the league since November 1999 and that was only by one point. I think we will gloss over the little matter of the draw last April when our team bore little resemblance to the team which won the cup on the following Saturday.

Quins are currently propping up the league with three defeats in their last three matches. Therefore they must be the underdogs in this week’s game. But, for all their failings, we know that the Quins will make us work hard for a victory so a good game is in prospect.

I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

(The following comments come from the Zurich Premiership Press Office)

Harlequins v London Irish

· Before this season Quins had only once started a league season with
three losses, in 1998/99. They have never lost the opening four matches
in a season, but in 1987/88 begun without a win in their first four games,
with a sequence of loss, draw, loss, loss.

· Quins have won just one of their last six matches - 40-16 against Leeds
at the Stoop on 3 May.

· The Exiles victory over Saracens last Sunday ended an unwanted run of
six straight defeats - their worst run since 1997/98.

· London Irish have won just one Premiership match "on the road" since
last November - a 29-24 win at Leeds on 31 March.



Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played 16
NEC Harlequins Won 7 43.8%
London Irish Won 8 50.0%
Drawn 1 6.3%
Biggest Win for NEC Harlequins 66 - 7 14 Sep 1996
Biggest Win for London Irish 62 - 14 25 Apr 1998

NEC Harlequins top try scorer vs London Irish Daren O'Leary 6 tries

NEC Harlequins top points scorer vs London Irish Paul Burke 38 points

London Irish top try scorer vs NEC Harlequins Conor O'Shea 9 tries

London Irish top points scorer vs NEC Harlequins Jarrod Cunningham 53 points


Previous Meetings
Date Teams Result Venue

14 Apr 2002 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 18 - 18 Madejski Stadium

01 Sep 2001 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 21 - 32 The Stoop

19 Nov 2000 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 16 - 21 Madejski Stadium

19 Aug 2000 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 16 - 22 The Stoop

12 Feb 2000 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 14 - 39 The Stoop

07 Nov 1999 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 17 - 16 The Stoop

23 Jan 1999 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 17 - 22 The Stoop

19 Dec 1998 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 16 - 20 The Avenue

25 Apr 1998 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish 14 - 62 The Avenue

27 Dec 1997 NEC Harlequins vs London Irish Irish 26 - 24 The Stoop