By David Hibell
February 28 2003

A return to rugby from politics & a run of three straight defeats in the Zurich Premiership has led Peter Thorburn to warn his Bristol Shoguns players that their match this weekend against Quins is a must win game. Talking on bristolshoguns.co.uk Thorburn said: "We've got to win, I know it's a cliché but the importance to both sides is clear. Sunday's match against Harlequins is our game in hand and there's no room for error in the bottom half of the table."

The Bristol Shoguns team shows a few changes; in the front row Saul Nelson earns himself a call up to the starting XV with Paul Johnstone dropping to the bench and prop Julian White's knee problem opens the way for an extended run for Darren Crompton who has been chomping at the bit for some time.

Brendan Daniel has not recovered from his injury sustained in the Montferrand match preventing him from showing Quins supporters that his performance in the away match was well below what we have come to expect at Bristol.

Better news for Shoguns supporters is the return of Captain Garath Archer after he missed the previous two league games because of a neck problem and he & his fellow lock Alex Brown will be looking to secure more possession than was achieved in the match at the stoop where Alex Codling and fellow locks Davison and Evans ensured our worse line out return for some time.

Elsewhere ex Quin Jamie Williams is at full back, and the partnerships at centre of Andrew Higgins and Daryl Gibson and at half back of Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi continue. The only uncertainty is in the back row where Ross Beattie undergoes a late fitness test with Rhys Oakley on stand by.

Quins have injuries to Jason Leonard, Laurent Gomez, Bruce Starr and Pat Sanderson to contend with and have delayed naming their team. Prop Ceri Jones has been signed on loan from Newport and could make his league debut bedding down in the front row with Tani Fuga and Jon Dawson who gave England prospect Andrew Sherridan a torrid time in the last match. Ace Tiatia has been cleared to play following a disciplinary hearing earlier this week and may feature in the back row alongside Captain Andre Vos and Tony Diprose. Dan Luger could hit a personal landmark this weekend as he has played a combined total of 99 league matches to date for Richmond, Orrell, Saracens and Harlequins.

Their last game was a disappointing 0-45 defeat at home to Sale Sharks ending a straight run of six home wins in the Zurich Premiership. Their away form remains amongst the worst in the league having lost all their away matches this season and they will be looking to set that straight on Sunday. They know that a loss puts pressure on them & inches them closer to the wrong end of the league table and a win takes keeps them safely in mid table where they can push on for that all important Heineken Cup place.

They know how to win at the Memorial Ground before, the last victory being a 19-26 win in 1998, and in Paul Burke have a fly half who knows the ground very well. Matches between these two teams in the past have produced some great rugby with both teams looking to run with the ball and attack from deep.

Bristol Team

1. Andrew Sheridan
2. Saul Nelson
3. Darren Crompton
4. Garath Archer (c)
5. Alex Brown
6. Matt Salter
7. Michael Lipman
8. Ross Beattie/Rhys Oakley
9. Agustin Pichot
10. Felipe Contepomi
11. Phil Christophers
12. Daryl Gibson
13. Andrew Higgins
14. David Rees
15. Jamie Williams

Replacements:

Paul Johnstone, Chris Rowland, Scott Morgan, Rhys Oakley/Chris Morgan, Peter Richards, Shane Drahm, Lee Best.

Referee - Tony Spreadbury

Quins team - tba

Out of respect for Nick Duncombe a very popular member of the Quins team and an England Sevens star Harlequins have retired their number 9 shirt for the rest of the season. In addition, Quins will change their club crest to incorporate an 'ND9' logo underneath their usual badge.

Bristol Shoguns vs. NEC Harlequins
Sun 02 Mar at Memorial Stadium - KO 15:00

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership

Played 23

Bristol Shoguns Won 11 47.8%
NEC Harlequins Won 12 52.2%

Drawn 0 0%

Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns 16 - 0 29 Feb 1992

Biggest Win for NEC Harlequins 28 - 3 06 Jan 1996

Bristol Shoguns top try scorer vs NEC Harlequins Huw Duggan 3 tries

Bristol Shoguns top points scorer vs NEC Harlequins Mark Tainton 52 points

NEC Harlequins top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns Will Carling 6 tries

NEC Harlequins top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns Paul Burke 46 points

Previous Meetings

Date Teams Result Venue

04 Jan 2003 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 17 - 26 The Stoop

31 Mar 2002 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 43 - 27 Memorial Stadium

08 Sep 2001 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 38 - 32 The Stoop

11 Feb 2001 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 13 - 9 Memorial Stadium

16 Sep 2000 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 25 - 31 The Stoop

11 Mar 2000 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 42 - 39 Memorial Stadium

28 Oct 1999 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 20 - 36 The Stoop

03 May 1998 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 19 - 26 Memorial Stadium

31 Dec 1997 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 40 - 38 The Stoop

15 Apr 1997 Bristol Shoguns vs Quins 6 - 29 The Stoop

Top try scorer: Brendon Daniel (Bristol) 7; Matt Moore (Harlequins) 6
Top points scorers: Felipe Contepomi (Bristol) 236; Paul Burke (Harlequins) 147
Quins lost 0-45 at home to Sharks last time out - the first time they had ever failed to register a point in 140 previous home league matches.

The Londoners have not won away from the Stoop since they beat Rotherham at Clifton Lane on 17 March 2001 - registering 16 losses and 3 draws in away games since then.

Tickets for Bristol Shoguns Zurich Premiership clash with NEC Harlequins on Sunday 2 March at the Memorial Stadium are available on-line at www.bristolshoguns.co.uk and from the Shoguns Ticket Hotline on 0117 311 1461.