By Duncan Wood
January 2 2003

Matt Salter was a try scorer in the last meeting at the Stoop although Jason Little grabbed the headlines with a pair. Bristol will be full of confidence after the fine win over Sale last weekend.

NEC Harlequins vs Bristol Shoguns
Sat 04 Jan at The Stoop - KO 15:00

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership

Played 23
NEC Harlequins Won 11 - 47.8%
Bristol Shoguns Won 11 - 47.8%
Drawn 1 - 4.3%
Biggest Win for NEC Harlequins, 28 - 3, 06 Jan 1996
Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns, 16 - 0, 29 Feb 1992

NEC Harlequins top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, Keith Wood, 6 tries

NEC Harlequins top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, Will Carling, 36 points

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

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

Previous Meetings

Date		Result	Venue
27 Oct 2002	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	p-p	Memorial Stadium
31 Mar 2002	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	27 - 43	Memorial Stadium
08 Sep 2001	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	32 - 38	The Stoop
11 Feb 2001	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	9 - 13	Memorial Stadium
16 Sep 2000	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	31 - 25	The Stoop
11 Mar 2000	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	39 - 42	Memorial Stadium
28 Oct 1999	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	36 - 20	The Stoop
03 May 1998	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	26-19	Memorial Stadium
31 Dec 1997	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	38 - 40	The Stoop
15 Apr 1997	NEC Harlequins vs Bristol	29 - 6	The Stoop

NEC Harlequins v Bristol Shoguns
· Quins have won their last five home Premiership matches in a run which stretches back to a 23-33 reversal to Leeds at the Stoop on 14 September.
· Bristol have won their last two away from home - you have to go back to 1996 to find the last time they won three in a row on the road in the top flight.
· Bristol have won their last three Premiership encounters with Quins. The match scheduled for Sunday 27 October at the Memorial Stadium was postponed due to high winds.

Here is the Quins press release with their team news:

NEC Harlequins are forced to make two changes to the team that started against Bath last weekend (28th December 2002) for this Saturday’s (4th January 2003) match against Bristol Shoguns in the Zurich Premiership at the Stoop, kick-off 3.00pm.

In the front row, Jon Dawson comes in for Laurent Gomez. Gomez fractured a bone in his leg in training on New Year's Eve and will be out of action for approximately four months.

In the back row, Ace Tiatia comes in on the blind side flank to replace Pat Sanderson, who came off with an injured shoulder against Bath. Captain Andre Vos moves to the open side.

"This weekend’s game is a big one for both teams," said NEC Harlequins Chief Executive Mark Evans. "After our disappointing performance against Bath it is important that we bounce back immediately."

"Bristol are a very good unit and have some very exciting players. They are a very good team going forward and we know that we will face a tough challenge on Saturday afternoon."

The full team is as follows:

15. Nathan Williams
14. Rob Jewell
13. Will Greenwood
12. Chris Bell
11. Dan Luger
10. Paul Burke
9. Nick Duncombe
1. Jason Leonard
2. Tani Fuga
3. Jon Dawson
4. Bill Davison
5. Alex Codling
6. Ace Tiatia
7. Andre Vos (Capt.)
8. Tony Diprose

Replacements:
16. Pablo Cardinali
17. Jim Evans
18. Simon Miall
19. Luke Sherriff
20. Scott Bemand
21. Ben Gollings
22. Viliame Satala

Don't read too much into Quins' defeat at Bath last week. After losing their first two league matches at the Stoop, they are unbeaten there since.

It's a side packed with internationals although Keith Wood is missing and Viliame Satala (who played against Bristol for Mont de Marsan a couple of seasons back) has to make do with a place on the bench.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bristol served up another helping of the recipe that defeated Sale last weekend i.e. a strong effort up front and the skills of Pichot and Contepomi pulling the strings.

However, Quins should not take their eyes off the dangerous outside backs that Bristol possess.

One intriguing duel will be the midfield tussle between Will Greenwood and Daryl Gibson. Will the former All Black outwit the current England international?

If Bristol can maintain their shape and discipline and keep Paul Burke from kicking at goal, they are in with every chance.