Was it?

By MG
January 22 2022

Supporting Quins is not for the faint hearted. Once again we won an enthralling encounter in the closing seconds - although this time Lady Luck was definitely wearing that famous shirt.

Alex Dombrandt was the likely hero powering over some four minutes after the 80 had passed. He lost the ball but did he touch it down first and if he did which side of the line was it on? The only person who mattered said it was a try and who are we to argue?

Our 36-33 victory looked unlikely as Castres powered into an early lead and fly half Botica should really have won the game for his side. He'd left his kicking boots on the other side of the channel, by the looks of it, and then totally blew a try when he darted through the Quins defence only to drop the ball just short of the line.

Boys and girls when you get on the pitch on Sunday morning carry the ball in both hands like your coaches tell you.

Quins were 13-0 down after ten minutes. Fortunately, Dombrandt got us going with the first of his three tries. He finished like a winger with a dive into the corner, despite the attentions of Adrea Cocagi's cover tackle (left).

Then Huw Jones scored from Tommy Allan's delicate grubber after Andre Esterhuizen's smashed the defender  who was juggling the ball on the line.

A big cheer for Tonga and its tsunami problems when Taulani forced his way over and we were in the lead.

However, Joe Marler was sin-binned for stamping on  Rory Kockott's hand. It was ill-advised but Joe's foot rolled of the ball  - he looked like he was only trying to secure quick ball after the Ref's whistle had gone.

Kockott was not too badly hurt as he showed minutes later when he went over on the blind-side.

Castres led at half-time.  However. Dombrant  was out wide again to score his second.

The visitors were desperate for a win to keep their European hopes alive and they took some kind of control wth tries from Cocagi and winger Filipo Nakosi.

But with Marcus Smith off the bench we staged our customary late late show. Phew (again).