A crowd of about 1000 had turned out to see Andy Farrell, Saracens’ most expensive non-player, make his Rugby Union debut after more than a year on the sidelines with injuries. Photographers, eminent Rugby reporters and video cameras abounded and the press box was over full. If they were paying attention to anything other than Mr. Farrell, they should have enjoyed an excellent game of Rugby, some good tries and a very satisfactory Harlequins’ victory.

Looking at the team lists before the match, the Saracens’ pack appeared to be likely to cause Quins some problems. Experienced Premiership performers like Chesney, Cairns, Fullarton and Russell, as well as Farrell, looked to offer a strong platform. Although Quins struggled at first, they overcame their problems and long before the end were more than holding their own, even when reduced in numbers by a yellow card for George Robson, and more than once won the ball against the head.

Early penalties to Saracens for an offence at the scrum and then for not rolling away put Quins on the defensive, but then they won the line-out and pushed the visitors back deep into their own half to gain a scrum in front of the posts about 15 metres out. From the scrum the ball came quickly left to find Gavin Duffy in space for the first try. Jarvis failed to add the points from near the touchline, but after only seven minutes Quins led 5 – 0.

Unforced and unnecessary errors frequently ended dangerous Saracens’ attacks. A penalty conceded for holding on brought the visitors a good touch on half way only to lose the line out. Another penalty produced them a line out inside the Quins twenty-two but the throw was not straight. Another dangerous thrust saw the ball knocked on. In between, Harlequins threw the ball wide, moving it through several hands only for Charlie Amesbury to be stopped short of the line and the ball to be knocked on in the ruck.

Harlequins were not to be denied for long and great Quins’ pressure again saw the ball moving along the backs for Amesbury to cross for the second try which Jarvis converted to give a lead of 12 – 0 after twenty minutes. Clearly stung by this score, Saracens hit back and came storming back into the Quins twenty-two and only desperate and valiant defence kept them at bay. It could not last and eventually they created an overlap on the left for their hooker, Matt Cairns, to give Farrell the simplest of scoring passes for the flanker merely to drop across the line to score. Laidlaw missed the conversion. 12 – 5.

Within another two minutes the visitors levelled the score when a high ball apparently knocked on and then kicked deep into the Quins’ half allowed Saracens to chase and score. The conversion levelled the score with twenty-six minutes gone. Thereafter both sides tried hard to increase the tempo and the score. There were some skilful moments which remain in the memory. Duffy adroitly rescued a charged down kick. Vaikona tackled Amesbury and robbed him of the ball in the tackle. A fine run by Guest and Hala’ufia and Amesbury which saw the final pass adjudged forward.

The first half was almost at an end when a deliberate knock-on by Broster gave Quins a penalty and the visitors’ prop a yellow card. With the final kick of the half Jarvis kicked the penalty and at the interval Quins led 15 – 12.

Harlequins made a number of substitutions in the interval. Jarvis, Ross, Hala’ufia and Mel Deane were withdrawn and Sherriff, Ward, Jordan Turner-Hall and Jewell entered the fray. Saracens missed an early attempt to kick a penalty but Brown increased Quins’ lead with a successful kick a minute or two later. Quins now began to pressure the visitors, pushing them back into their own half. They were aided by the increasing number of unforced errors which frequently aborted Saracens’ attacks.

A fine break for the base of the scrum by Guest saw him pass to Care and the scrum-half went straight past Farrell down the bind side for the try. Mike Brown missed the conversion but the lead was now 23 -12 after only ten minutes of the second half.

Both sides were afflicted by knock-ons and handling errors and greater danger to Quins came in the form of a yellow card for George Robson, on for Jim Evans, for a deliberate offside interception of a pass. This left Quins the last nine minutes to face with only 14 men. Saracens tried hard to increase the level of their pressure, but staunch defence prevailed. Brown missed with another penalty attempt and then a kick through saw Chris Robshaw beat the cover to touch down for the bonus point try and Mike Brown added the conversion with the last kick of the game.

This was a good performance by a mostly young Quins team with a number clearly causing the management some selection problems for Sunday. The smiles of satisfaction on the faces of Colin Osborne and Tony Diprose as they contemplated what they had seen told most of the story. The way in which the forwards had dealt with the strong Saracens pack gave particular pleasure.

The bonus point win leaves Harlequins equal at the to of the Southern Conference of the Guinness A League with Bristol who also won last night. This will add some spice to the match next Monday when the two teams meet at Clifton R.F.C.

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