By Alanquin
October 21 2013

Harlequins became the 65th successive visitors to the Stade Marcel Michelin to lose to Clermont Auverne who have not lost on that ground in over four years. In their second pool match of the Heineken Cup Quins lost 23 – 16 but salvaged a losing bonus point with a forty metre drop goal from the boot of Nick Evans with the last kick of the match.

Clermont opened the scoring with an early penalty and then turned up the pace and penetration with three tries, two remaining unconverted, before the end of the first half hour as Lee Byrne, Fofana and Lecrampe opened a 20 – 6 lead.  Harlequins’ points coming from a well struck penalty by Botica from the half way line. Evans, too, added another penalty.

Quins, however were not intimidated and they continued to play with pace, invention and determination in a clear improvement over the previous week’s performance.  They remained faithful to their style of play and even increasing their pace to force Clermont into defence rather than attack.

Clermont were reduced to fourteen by a yellow card for full back Lee Byrne and a Harlequins’ try soon followed as Care and Evans and Mike Brown created  the opportunity and Tom Williams marvellous receipt of Brown’s overhead pass near his ankles, put the winger in at the corner. An excellent conversion kick from the touchline by Evans improved the score and at the interval Clermont led 20 – 13.

Harlequins continued the second half as they had finished the first half and with both teams playing fast, running rugby errors abounded on both sides. Quins might easily have had another try but for the staunch Clermont defence. 

Another penalty increased the home side’s lead, but the measure of Quins’ improvement shows in the lack of scores in the second half effectively drawn 3 – 3 with Harlequins snatching a losing bonus point by dint of Evans fine long range drop goal.

So what of Quins future Heineken prospects?  The difficult home and away matches against Racing Metro are next and while mathematically there is still a chance of qualification beyond the pool stages, no team has done so having lost their opening two matches. However, only four points separate top and bottom and miracles do happen.