By Worried of Whitton
April 13 2006

This weekend Double winners NEC Harlequins return to their Division 1 campaign as Champions and expect to continue their winning ways. Harlequins are playing their away match against London Welsh “at Home”. The match venue was hastily rearranged, after it became clear that the expected crowds at Old Deer Park could not be safely accommodated. Kick off on Easter Saturday at the Stoop is at 15.00, and Quins season tickets are NOT valid.

Since the change of venue change circumstances have changed and so it will be interesting to see how big a crowd make their way to The Stoop on Saturday. With the achievement of the double, a week early and it being a holiday weekend numbers may be affected. As an incentive, Saturday will also see Harlequins being presented with the National Division One trophy after the game and as such will ensure that Quins put-in a good performance against London Welsh, who will be out to achieve at least another four try bonus.

Despite achieving the status of Division One champions two weeks ago at the Stoop after their emphatic victory over Sedgley Park, followed by their eventual solid win over Bedford in the Powergen Trophy at Twickenham last Sunday, it may seem that Quins have little to play for. However there is the matter of rebuilding their “undefeated” record following the away loss down at Exeter a few weeks ago. Since that match Quins have now gone five league and cup games undefeated. In addition there are still 15 league points on offer and the team will be determined to collect all of them especially from further bruising encounters with Bedford and Plymouth, and remain undefeated at home this season, and indeed unbeaten in the TW postcode!

Quins last played London Welsh on Boxing Day where Quins ran out eventual winners 47-23, after a strong fight back by our near neighbours. London Welsh are the only team to pick up a bonus point at London Welsh currently lie n 11th place after 8 wins, one draw and fifteen defeats this season. In recent weeks their performance has improved and they have recorded some notable wins that took them above the relegation zone, however last weekend in the only ND1 match played, they were comprehensively beaten by a rampant Rotherham who soundly beat them in their second eight try rout in two weeks the final score 55 – 10. It was clearly a game of two halves as London Welsh were still in the game at half time with the score at 14 – 10, however in the second half Rotherham proved too strong as they extended their lead at regular intervals. Chris Hala'Ufia, rumoured to be joining Quins next season scored one of Rotherhams tries.

In announcing their team to play London Welsh NEC Harlequins have made four changes to the side that started against Bedford in the cup final, with Mike Brown stepping in for the injured Ugo Monye who had an impressive game on Sunday, who was injured last week at Twickenham. In the front row, Jimmy Richards takes over from Tani Fuga at hooker while Ricky Nebbett starts at tighthead prop, with Lorne Ward dropping to the bench. Pablo Bouza partners Simon Miall in the second row, as injury rules out Jim Evans. Ahead on Monday afternoons “A” Final first leg against Leicester Academy players Darren Clayton and Kiba Richards are included in the First XV squad for the first time and are among the replacements.
I feel fairly confident of another Quins victory this weekend. As I said in an earlier preview April would be an exciting time for Harlequins and with Champion status and promotion back to the Premiership and with the announcement in last weekend press of a new South Stand next year which will increase the capacity to 14,000 it just gets better and better.
Don’t forget the “A” game on Monday afternoon.


Come on you Quins

NEC Harlequins:
15. Tom Williams, 14. Simon Keogh, 13. Will Greenwood, 12. Gavin Duffy, 11. Mike Brown, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. Jimmy Richards, 3. Ricky Nebbett, 4. Pablo Bouza, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Tom Guest, 7. Andre Vos (C), 8. Nick Easter
Replacements: 16. Aston Croall,17. Lorne Ward,18. George Robson, 19. Darren Clayton, 20. Ian Vass,
21. Mel Deane, 22. Kiba Richards,

London Welsh: probably
15 Gareth Swales; 14 John Swords, 13 James Storey, 12 Matt Cannon, 11 James Greenwood, 10 Mark Meenan, 9 Allen Chilton, 1 Steve Millard, 2 Chris Ritchie, 3 John Masters, 4 Howard Quigley , 5 Jim Brownrigg, 6 Matt Fitzgerald, 7 Simon Etheredge, 8 Paul Cox.