They play with the likes of Shannon, Young Munster et al. They feed into Ulster at provisional level, Belfast Harlequins currently have seven players contracted to Ulster, only one of these was playing last night, the hooker Rory Best. Belfast Harlequins (GBH) had seventeen players unavailable for selection, some injured and many of the youngsters were away with Ulster under 21s. Grafton are a sponsor. The club has only been running for a few years after an amalgamation of several local clubs. The club is more like a sports club than a rugby club with a site similar in size to London Irish’s Sunbury. The grounds encompass a large cricket pitch, red gravel hockey, bowls and a floodlit rugby pitch. Their club house is splendid, set on several levels with a swanky lift (helpful, as the disabled loo was on the first floor!).

The game. A dull and disjointed first half saw no score for 25 minutes until Ian Humphreys (brother of David) slotted over a penalty from close range. The penalty count had been very high against Quins and GBH probably enjoyed seventy five percent of the ball in the first half. Quins didn’t really get going, you were left thinking typical friendly, no intensity. A couple of spats enlivened the first half. Jeremy Staunton saw the red mist at one point, gave away two penalties in forty seconds and was lucky to stay on. Right on half time, or so we thought, Gavin Duffy lost his Tim Henman good boy image and got in a spat with GBH’s hooker Rory Best. Both were shown yellow after intervention from the touch judge. Shortly afterwards Ian Humphreys collapsed in a pile, away from everybody, and eventually left the game with what looked like ankle or knee problems. The first half meandered on when finally Quins got a penalty, quickly kicked into the corner. You sensed something was now going to come. It did. The lineout thrown to the middle, the maul started to roll and Andre Vos came up with the ball over the GBH line. Try! Andy Dunne swiftly converted 7 – 3 to Quins, half time.

Quins went to the dressing room and I think were gently encouraged by management! Outside on the pitch JK had an extended chat with the match officials, he left smiling, the GBH had an extended huddle and the lively cheer leaders provided some harmless distraction. Rob started to take many pictures at this point! The second half started with Quins galvanised into action. Quins quickly gained possession and worked their way swiftly down the touchline. Another rolling maul, eating up yards, sorry metres, well controlled, over the line and Ace came up with the ball for the first of his quartet of tries on the night. Dunne converted, as he did with every try scored on the night. 12 – 3 and you sensed that the feisty GBH were about to fold. Almost straight from the restart the GBH defence was caught flat when Steve So’oialo pounced on the loose ball just inside the GBH half. He sprinted away, at some speed (I do realise that sprints normally are quick, but he found the afterburners!) He stood the fullback up by slightly checking then ran round him leaving him for dead. It was a moment to purr! Dunne converted 21 – 3. Game over. Horsmann soon replaced Vos but Quins made few other changes. The pattern was now set and Quins dominated the rest of the proceedings. The precision, support and shape that had been missing in the first half was now all too evident. Quins ended up with nine tries, many from excellently controlled rolling mauls. Dunne converted the lot.
So how to we put this result in perspective? I would imagine Quins are satisfied rather than pleased. Mark Lambert played in the front row for all but five minutes, this was his first senior start. Mike Brown made his second start. Both acquitted themselves well. With Maurice Fitzgerald injured, although not quite as badly as first thought, Lambert is probably only one more injury away from the bench, so some match time was good for him. Horsmann again looked good. Mobile and aware like a younger Dippy, except faster and lighter. Steve So’oialo had a great game. Good quick flat passes and his reverse pass to Ace (like Dawson does, accept much much better) was the moment of the game. Ace had an iffy first half, arriving a bit late several times and some dodgy handling. His second half was oozing with belief and confidence, much improved as well.

Brown caught the eye again, just missing out on a try when bundled into touch when over the line. The lineout had a mixed evening. Good throwing from James Hayter, I don’t recall a single one not straight. The short ones never seemed to work with rarely one phase of play coming from them. The middle ones were always retained and led to solid possession. The ones to the back were often messy.

Our scrum seemed a little light, an all international back row of Dippy, Andre and Ace couldn’t make up for a lack of grunt. However, they held their own, but against a better pack things could be difficult. The word is that Ulster will play a forward orientated game on Friday and are hoping their pack will grind down ours.

Quins have plenty of players still to make an appearance this season. Will Greenwood and Ugo Monye (no crutches) for two. Keogh looks fit, after seeing him do some sprinting and Ceri Jones and Jon Dawson are loitering in the wings. I would suggest that again it was the performance rather than the result that was important, so I think we are on track. The Ulster game has created a lot of interest and it should be a good one. A large crowed is expected.

For the record:
Team: 1 Mike Worsley, 2 James Hayter, 3 Mark Lambert (replaced by Jon Dawson after 75 mins), 4 Karl Rudski 5 Simon Miall (His butler was shown yellow after 76 mins), 6 Ace TiaTia, 7 Andre Vos (replaced by Kai Horsmann after 50 mins), 8 Tony Diprose, 9 Steve So’oialo, 10 Andy Dunne, 11 Mike Brown, 12 Mel Deane, 13 Jeremy Staunton (replaced by Andy Reay after 64 mins), 14 Henry Barratt, 15 Gavin Duffy (Yellow card for gay slapping after 40 minutes).

Replacements not used: Tani Fuga, Ceri Jones, Adrian Jarvis, Roy Winters & Simon Keogh.

Tries: Ace 4, Steve So’oialo 2 and Mel, Dippy and Andre one each. Andy Dunne 9 conversions.

We were treated right royally by the locals and many of them thanked us for putting up and strongish side. Although rather sadly many of the locals left with twenty minutes to go. The crowd at the end was about half the starting number.

Thanks go to Roy their match day announcer and Mick (Brain C’s cousin) for background and local intelligence. No new injury news at the moment. Also for the record, I believe all the Quins’ supporters were Sid & Anne, Sandy and his sister, Rob & Sally, Duncan & I and some youngster who I couldn’t find afterwards to chat to. Was this Matty 007 I wonder? (Have a good look at the offy site later, their “reporter” was really struggling!)

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