This is in addition to the weekly Man of Match as nominated by kwin/Prof, for the player judged to have made the most outstanding contribution in that week’s match.  However it is relevant to include those recent winners of the MoTM in the nomination for the October Player of the Month, as their performance in October fulfils this criteria.

 Unlike a number of recently published Quins’ match reports in the National Newspapers, my credentials for writing this article are un-surpassed, I actually watched all the matches in person!

October was scheduled for four games two league and two cup matches, two at home and two away. Well it didn’t turn out that way. October was a good month for us We didn’t lose a First XV game, we scored 157 points, including 21 tries although we did concede 65, but the team, despite injuries, have begun to work together as a unit, and their commitment has been impressive.

October 5^th  Quins v Newcastle  W 47-23

Man of the Match as voted by CAW   Tony Diprose

Focus on Dippy (Juggler)

This was a huge game, after the disappointment at Sale the previous week. A win and credibility restored, a loss would have confined post match conversation to the dreaded “R” word.

Sanderson, put us 5-0 up, just seconds of the kick off.  That was the first of our six tries that day. The back row played out of their skins. The awesome trio of, Diprose, Sanderson and Tiatia who clicked and consolidated their game as the afternoon went on. To quote Prof s Positives that week, “Dippy with his experience and ball handling skills, Pat with his speed and fitness and Ace with his massive strength and BIG tackles”, and what a tackle that was against the Newcastle prop Jeremy Isaacson.

In addition Nick Duncombe returned and showed that he was back on form, and the day also saw Laurent Gomez score his first try in Quins Colours.

 October 12^th Caerphilly v Quins W 20-73

Man of the Match as voted by CAW   Nathan Williams

Fresh from his Man of the Match Title against Newcastle Tony Diprose started as Captain at Caerphilly

The teams played well together and but there also a number of note worthy individual performances. However there were a few to many occasions when perhaps the team became a little over confident and the play did not flow as intended.

Matt Moore (two tries) and Rob Jewell (one try) with Gollings and Duncombe and Greenstock and Satala all made good contributions and Pat Sanderson, whose first half try was disallowed, was in full flow before he was so cruelly injured.

But there was one player who stood out.

Nathan Williams (pic: Juggler) kicking from the spot in this game was a bit of a revelation, and pleased all the travelling supporters, after the previous week’s disappointments. Nathan has added another dimension to the team in the absence of the injured Paul Burke and David Slemen. I am one who still believes that Slemen will get his kicking right.  Nathan appeared to be in his element, skipping back to his position after a conversion early in the second half. Nathan secured 9 kicks out of 11. I noted that the match report became a wee bit repetitive, “Williams successfully converted”, but with a name like Williams, playing Rugby in the Welsh Valleys he could not fail!

 October 19^th Quins v Caerphilly W 37-22

Man of the Match as voted by CAW      Ben Gollings

Mark Ring received more votes in the poll than Ben, in what I’ve deemed to a “protest vote”; he is discounted, as he has not (yet) signed for Quins.

This match was met with disappointment in many quarters. There were those who turned up expecting a cricket score result, but it was not to be. Credit to Caerphilly, they had done their homework well, they were up for a win, they had nothing to loose. Quins knew the tie was in the bag and consolidated our position and invoked  a damage limitation exercise. As our kwin pointed out most of the other seeded teams who were at home that week increased their points tally over the previous week. But we made it thorough to Paris in December.

Another swift opening try this time by Ben Gollings (Pic Simon Jones) followed by Seb Fitzgerald scoring a debut try

A second try by Gollings, after the pace of Duncombe had drawn his man allowing him to put down in the corner.

It was a repeat of the week before “Williams successfully converted” and fortuitously so because it was that kicking that won us the match.

 October 26^th Bristol v Quins Postponed due to bad weather

• Would Will Greenwood have excelled at No 10?

• Was Codling back in form?

• How well would our defence have held?

• Would this have been our first away win in he league for 18 months?

We will never know, although I 'm sure our game would have been far more exciting that the London Irish /Northampton match I sat through. Perhaps our own Will R Warner should be nominated as Man of the Match for organising such a great day out. Thanks again Will.

All of those Men of the Match also made significant contributions in other matches as did other members of the team and these are my additional nominations for Player of the Month.

As discussed, the back row, in the shape of Tiatia, Sanderson, and Diprose were a formidable combination in the Newcastle match, Diprose nomination is already in place.

Ace Tiatia

What can I say? Already voted as September Player of the Month, Ace (Pic: Juggler) has had a mixed month.

He had an awesome game at Newcastle and yes that tackle, as well as 10 minutes in the sin bin! " I was nowhere near him!"

The following week he was serving a one-match ban for picking up too many yellow cards, but he was not resting at home. Whether this was commitment to the team or undertaking his Community Service as water boy he travelled to Wales with the team .Of course he received rapturous applause from the Quins fans every time he ran on to the pitch.

He was back in the side the following week in place of Pat Sanderson, but playing with a little more caution, before taking over from Tani as Hooker when he was substituted. An all round performer indeed.

Pat Sanderson

Despite playing just one full game and part of a second his right knee ligament, Pat's performances part of the back row speak for themselves. Another nominee with two tries is as many weeks, with a touch down at Sale the previous week, after just seven minutes.

His try against Newcastle was scored from quick thinking and pace when he grounded the ball just before it crossed the dead ball line, with less than a minute on the clock.

He was playing well at Caerphilly until that ruck which saw a ligament in his right knee torn, during a freak accident. He is now out for six weeks.

Tani Fuga

It is great to see Tani (pic: Juggler) playing so well after he spent most of last season injured, and a broken hand meant he missed the first three matches this season. Tani 's return to fitness coincided with Keith Woods Ireland call up and subsequent neck injury. Tani has grown game by game. Against Newcastle he scored the opening try. The following week, down at Caerphilly he was denied a second try in as many weeks when the referee decided to award a penalty try instead. How often does a hooker score two weeks running? He also played a major role in the home game against Caerphilly until an injured shoulder forced him off the field. The team seemed to miss him once he was substituted. Fortunately this injury was none too serious as he was scheduled to play at Bristol last weekend.

Tani has rightly earned his nomination, even with the suspect hair cut!

My nominations for Harlequins Player of the month are therefore;

• Tony Diprose

• Tani Fuga

• Ben Gollings

• Pat Sanderson

• Ace Tiatia

• Nathan Williams

These are my choices, you may have your own suggestions but on balance I think these are the names that will appear on most supporters lists.

This is a completely different team to this time last year, and I m not talking about different players, of those nominated, Williams is the only new signing. There is much more focus and commitment and the camaraderie is noticeable. The start to the season was not as good as we may have liked although those losses in September were against Gloucester, Leeds and Leicester

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but had the current team confidence been present against Gloucester and Leeds would have been home wins for us, and the Leicester result would not have been so one sided. Only two months of the season gone, October was a satisfying month for us but there is A LOT still to play for with some great matches to come in November, Bath Wasps and Saracens twice.

Despite my pseudonym, on our current performance I’m not Worried at all, and looking forward to the arrival of Mr. Vos!

Next months MotM? Pic Juggler

kwin adds...

The results of the poll were

Question: October Player of the Month

-Tony Diprose 28%
-Tani Fuga 29%
-Ben Gollings 4%
-Pat Sanderson 2%
-Ace Tiatia 14%
-Nathan Williams 23%

Number of votes: 94

At the start of the poll it was neck and neck between Tani and Nathan, then at the last minute Tony came storming in from nowhere to appear right on Tani's shoulder (just like on the field really )

The winner of the poll and Come All Within Man of the Month for October is  ** TANI FUGA **

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