Prof’s Positives Week 26: Wales and the Army

By The Prof
February 28 2003

After Jase reached his 100th cap for England he succumbed to the problem that plagues all out and out wingers – a hamstring injury, so he was unavailable for England’s game against Wales in Cardiff.

It was a disappointing match but the two remaining Quins, Dan Luger and Will Greenwood both played well with Will again being the most imaginative back and scoring a try to equal the record that is also held by Rory Underwood and Gerald Davies who have both also scored six tries in Anglo-Welsh clashes. Dan did pick up a bruised thigh but he should have recovered in time to play against Bristol.

Wednesday saw Quins’ second team take on the Army at Aldershot in front of a large crowd. The team sheet showed the return of Roy Winters after being out all season following an Achilles’ tendon injury in pre-season training. Nick Greenstock and Chris Bell also returned to action and James Hayter, Alex Mockford and David Slemen continued their return from injury. The team played well as a whole with the young front row of Walton, Hayter and Hopkins performing well against powerful opposition. The young fly-half, Adrian Jarvis, also had a fine game showing good decision making, a fine pass and great kicking 6 of his eight conversion attempts. The Army fought hard for the whole game and never gave up, and the seconds had to perform at their best to score their eight tries.

Elsewhere in the club the Ladies won a hard fought game against local rivals Reading who had drawn the home fixture earlier in the season. The forwards and backs combined well and the Ladies scored two tries through full-back, Alex Burbidge, and scrum-half, Saskia Brazier-Kobus.

Although there were players returning from injury who were given a run out for the seconds Quins suffered another freak training ground injury when Bruce Starr broke his arm. To help alleviate the injury problems two new signings were announced – Ceri Jones the Newport loose-head and Mel Deane the Sale (sorry Sharks) centre. It has been reported that another signing will be announced soon too.

Thursday saw the funeral of Nick Duncombe, the church was packed full and a number of wonderful tributes were paid to him. Minute’s silences were held at both the seconds and Ladies games this week and another one will be held at Bristol when the players will have ND9 embroidered on their shirts and the scrum half will wear number 16 from now on.

Finally, the coach to Bristol this Sunday will be the first one that will be run independently of the HSC, it is bound to be a success with the number of travelling supporters who are hoping to cheer Quins to their first away victory in the Premiership since they won against Rotherham. Let’s go there and be loud and proud and show what a strong club we are all a part of.