Harlequins 23-12 Newcastle Falcons

It has been difficult to describe this match. The worst conditions for handling with a drab drizzle wafting over the field with an overcast sky leaving supporters only to groan slightly when a change of ref was announced minutes before the game.

However even though there were no boys own runs of the pitch scoring tries left right and centre, this was still a good game for Quins and should raise the teams confidence.

Why? I hear you cry. Well in all but one season I reckon we would have lost this. Falcons came down desperate for a win to overcome a very disappointing loss at home the previous week. The commitment hey showed could be seen from the two injuries in the opening half. That they were kept out shows the huge amount in defence Quins have improved since last season.

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It was also noticeable that the first points came to Quins in less than five minutes. Nick Evans keeping the score board ticking over nicely. That we didn’t score a try in the first half was more credit o the Newcastle defence and the conditions rather than the Quins attack. It was the pack that the stole the show. Easter and Marler especially stood out. Not least with a lovely break by Easter which attack ended in an adjudged forward pass and by a truly bone crunching tackle by he of the Mohawk.

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The conditions, as I have said, played their part. This could be summarised by Gopparth sliding onto his bum when successfully converting the first of his penalties. The 9-6 score line at half time I felt was about accurate. Newcastle through everything at a solid looking Harlequins defence but couldn’t break through except by kicking. Quins (although not looking dangerous in attack due to repeatedly dropping the ball) kept on the pressure Evans evidently realising early on that the passing running game was not going to work went for a number of down the field clearances as did the ever angry (or is that determined Brown) who put great pressure on the receiver after those kicks.

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The first minute of the second half showed something different. Sublime passing with an almost spiritual collecting he ball from his bootlaces’ from Brown saw Quins move at speed up field. Although Care was deemed as being held up (which he was, but why did the ref chose that time to stop and check when even the Quins bench knew he hadn’t got the line!) the following passages of play saw Quins camped on the Falcons line. Marler, Cairns, JJ et al turned the screw. A mere five scrums and one yellow card later and we had a penalty try, the second in as many games.

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It took changes in both packs (most notably Quins although this may just be that the usual starters for Falcons came on as ours left I’m not sure) meant that Falcons got some parity. It was here that my notes get a bit complicated. Mr White started, or continued to make some....how shall we call it..some erm, strange decisions. Nick Evans taken out in the air but the decision of a scrum for a knock on being called was one. People around me whom often don’t often vent an opinion about such things were, to put it mildly, incensed. Had we lost there may have been a lynching.

Falcons luckily were unable to get the scores they wanted, ending up kicking to the corner but seeing the following moves ending in knock-ons etc. With Quins getting procession and moving off up field it was unfortunate for old Quins academy Charlie Amesbury acting as receiver on their line, knocking on enabling a Quins scrum. It was from this scrum that the ball eventually ended with Guest crawling over for a score that meant hat Falcons left without the losing bonus point.

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With the final score being 23 – 12 what could I take from this match. Well, okay, Falcons aren’t the world’s toughest team. However with another performance like that another team may well come a cropper. However with the elements and (maybe) he ref against than (the latter at least some of the time) the fundamentals are there that Quins have the ability to be up there. Whether they are or not is up to them, but they have the capability to do very well.

Now with the Aviva Premiership taking a break it will be time to shout ‘Allez Les Quin’s’ and lets see what an overseas trip will bring us!