Captain Patrick Barrow urges his team on from behind.

The subsequent 0 - 81 defeat aptly reflects the different standard of play between the teams but not the tenacity or commitment that both sides showed.

In the first half Park ran away with 5 tries and 3 conversions to be ahead 0 - 31. Park had a definite fitness advantage. During the second half, Quins forwards packed more of a punch and began to play to their strengths in the scrums, rucks and mauls. There were even moments when the game was taken to the try line. But time after time, Park took advantage of missed ball and with their well-drilled plays, kept forcing Quins back into defence.

Even during stalemates, Park had the edge, as well as a furious pace, to break through and pass the ball wide to steam in with 8 tries in the second half with 5 converted.

Wanderers Manager Iain Rowlandson agreed that it was fairly even in the forwards but their backs were in another league. “ They won in a businesslike fashion and were gracious in victory”.

According to Rosslyn Park Coach Ian Hutchinson, Emerging is a young team where the players have their sights set on moving up to their 1st team.

“ Our purpose is to assess new players and give players who are coming back from injury time to get fit from injury” he says. “We’ve had quite a few different players recently but this was the best side we had out in 3 games”.

Hutchinson added that - apart from the winning - they enjoyed playing Harlequins because of the players attitude. “They keep trying and fighting right to the final whistle and we respect that.”

Captain Patrick Barrow was philosophical about the defeat . “I asked the team to show self respect in what we knew to be a difficult challenge and they didn’t let me down”.

Manager for Rosslyn Park Emerging, Robert Boultwood, would appear to back up that statement. On their website he is quoted as saying “Quins were outclassed by the Park side, with fitness and speed showing the more sedentary Quins a thing or two. But credit where credit is due, they kept going throughout the game and played in the spirit of rugby – which is no mean feat when you are losing as they did. Well done Quins Amateurs. “

Harlequins separate the men from the maul.

Next week the Wanderers have a bye in the Merit Table but the 1st team will take on Kilburn Cosmos at home, with the Cavaliers facing London Scottish III away.

Kick off for the 1st team will be 3pm at the College pitch next to the Stoop.

Wanderers team: Tom Cooper, Graeme Blackmore, John Lawrence, Andrew Lawrence, Pat Barrow (capt.), Chris Stewart, Hamid Zayouna, Benn Richards, Ian Langman, James Hayden, Phillipe Ah-Sun, Brad Westcott, Kwasi Appah, Jarrod Smith, David Spencer, Nicholas Wootton, Lloyd Chivandre, Charles McLiven, John ‘Rocky’ Aldwinckle

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