After just 30 seconds, Harlequins conceded a penalty in their 22, Kilburn opted for touch and won the subsequent line out, threatening the try line Harlequins conceded a second penalty in right in front of the posts, much to Kilburn’s dismay the penalty was missed.

From the drop out there were feint hopes that Harlequins had actually woken up and proceeded to drive up field with good loose play and support. Kilburn’s useful full back kicked for touch, Quin’s won the line out which was in their 22, quick ball was sent down the line, Currie received the ball at the same time as meeting a Kilburn a second row forward, this resulted in a broken nose for Kilburn and an 8 minute blood replacement for Currie. Fifteen minutes into the game fly half Cairns followed up his own up and under, collected it, broke the tackle and scored the first try for Harlequins, this was unconverted. Currie at this point returned to the field of play. There then ensued a series of penalties from both sides and the game became frenetic, and lacked any game plan, to Kilburns credit they rattled the Quins, they were continually in their faces, When Quins did win second phase ball, Quins were slow to move the ball out down the line where there was plenty of speed available, but the ball rarely got that far as a result of Kilburn’s persistant scuppering of the Quins efforts.

Kilburn who were generally more tenacious got their just rewards in the 21st minute when their full back carved a hole through a weak Quins defence scoring under the posts, score 5-7. Enduring some rather poor play after the restart from both sides, Quins scored their 2nd try under the posts, this was converted, 12-7. With the end of the first half in sight, Kilburn came back at Quins and whilst entrenched in the Quins 22 won a penalty which was converted, at which point the first half ended. At this point Quins were ahead 12-10.













At the turn around it was nice to see a small crowd of supporters had gathered, regrettably for them the game declined further still, but a searing try by Kwasi Appah rose the Quins moral, Appah received a pass from Currie from just outside the Quins 22. Appah handed off two of the opposition carved a hole trough what was a pretty solid defence up to that point and scored under the posts, Cairns converted this. Cairns had picked up an injury to his back in the first half and was really in a lot of pain. Quins lost Smith in the centre due to a knock and also lost Tapley who sustained a broken arm after collecting a ball at pace to go over for a try, alas Tapley was halted in his tracks due to a solid tackle from the Kilburn defence, a quick reshuffle saw Aldwinkle and Barrow pulled back from the scrum into the three quarters. 20 minutes into the half Kilburn scored their 2nd try, which was unconverted.

Quins became very tired at this point not to mention the few supporters, quite clearly fitness or the lack of it really began to tell, credit to them though they stuck to it as captain Robinson lead from the front. Likewise Kilburn who had expended a lot of energy in the first half were fading to. A turn over by Quins resulted in Currie scoring out on the flank. With about 10 minutes to go Quins were 24-15 up and sat back a bit, Kilburn in that time again twice running the ball down the line away from a very tired pack and a weakened three quarters, the try was unconverted. Kilburn could have scored again but some great covering from Aldwinkle saved the day, Aldwinkle tackled tirelessly through out the day and counter attacked at every opportunity creating holes and setting up good ruck and maul situations, he was the Quins man of the match.

The Harlequin Cavaliers played their first game of the season against a very robust London Scottish side losing 61-19. Captain Jarrod Smith was fairly philosophical of the result, commenting that he was looking forward to the return fixture as were the rest of the boy’s

Next week Harlequin Amateurs play away to Belsize Park who are 3rd in the league. The Wanderers play away to London Scottish in the Merit Table, 3.00 KO, and the Cavaliers play against Kew Occasionals at Richmond.

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