Prof’s Positives Week 33: Leicester

By The Prof
April 25 2003

So, we were told that Leicester would be smarting after their loss to Munster and we would be on the receiving end of an almighty backlash. Three wins out of three for the Tigers looked on the cards.

But people were forgetting our fine performance away to Leeds especially in the second half. The team looked fired up for the match, they came out to a standing ovation in memory of Nick Duncombe as this was the first first team home game since his death. Whether this spurred the team on or whether they are just starting to play to their potential is difficult to say, What I do know is that to not play a home game for ten weeks is ridiculous, oh yes, I also know that we beat Leicester and that we are now mathematically safe from relegation.

As the team came out the crowd was invited to stand and applaud in memory of nick Duncombe as this was the first first team game at The Stoop since his death. Whether this stirred the team to greater heights or whether the team are gelling more and are playing to their potential who knows? One thing I do know is that a ten week break without a game at home isn’t good, in fact three of the team had never played at The Stoop before so one of the midweek training sessions was held there, I presume so they knew where the toilets were, where they could get a cup of tea etc.

All in all the team performed well throughout and the defence was one place where the team has come on leaps and bounds in the last few games. The way they played against Leicester was pretty much the same way as they played away to Leeds. One person who often gets a lot of stick for his defensive play is Burke but I thought he was outstanding and he made a number of crucial tackles. It might be a tad unfair to have singled Burkey out because the defensive patterns and play of the whole team was fantastic. We have only shipped two tries in our last three games and we have stopped London Irish and Leicester from scoring a try at all. In the last four games we have got 11 points, I am sure a number of people would have settled for half that number when you think that three of those four games were away from home and the other was against the current European champions.

Ben Gollings’ try was a wonderful bit of individual skill which came from fine build up play from the forwards and a terrible pass from Greenwood. If the rumours are true and ‘Frodo’ is leaving us for pastures new next season we will need someone who can conjure a try out of nothing, is Ugo Monye the man, we shall see.

The back row were fantastic all game except for when Ace was offered a breather by Mr Maybank when he took exception to something that was happening in a ruck. Even when we were down to 14 men the defence held strong and Leicester just got more and more frustrated. The fact they kept kicking the ball dead from about 60 yards away didn’t improve their mood although it made a few people in the crowd rather happy, especially when Johnson did it.

So all in all it was a fine team performance with a lot of spirit shown by all, the crowd became more and more vocal as the match went on and it ended up with chants coming from both the East and West Stands (I am sure it was coming from the North and South too but it is more difficult to hear it from them).

As the Leicester team saw the chance of victory and even a bonus point slip away from them they resorted to more and more niggling punches but sadly Mr Maybank could only see the good in people for the most part and Ace was the only person binned. How Garforth and West managed to stay on the pitch for the whole game one has to wonder but you would also have to wonder about a whole load of Maybank’s decisions. Oh well we won so it’s best to move on I suppose.

The sight of hundreds of fans running onto the pitch in celebration at the final whistle (which was a very long time coming) was great, I hope Farmer Chris (Farmer Martin’s replacement) continues to allow this to happen as it shows what a family friendly club we are and by the look on the faces of the children who were having a kick about and by the number of players signing autographs it was enjoyed by all.

A group of fans also had fun before the game when the BBC came down to record some Saxon and Norman chanting to act as background noise for a documentary on the Battle of Hastings which should be broadcast some time next summer. It’s nice that the BBC saw Quins as a good club to be able to do this with and the free beer we were given certainly helped to lubricate our throats for the match. It seems that Martin Johnson was a bit confused as to why there was a group of about 30 Quins fans sitting together in the South Stand chanting Ut, Ut, Ut as he and his teammates came into the ground, if he watches the programme he’ll find out.

On the injury front Bruce Starr is again available for selection and Laurent Gomez and Alex Codling are not far away, Pat Sanderson is also coming along well and might be in action again before the end of the season. The relatively low injury count has allowed Evs to select an unchanged line up for the Gloucester match.

Elsewhere in the club the U19s defeated their Leicester opponents 14-10 with good play from Ende Monye (one presumes he must be Ugo’s brother), Tim McEwen, Duncan James and Tom Muggeridge. Leicester were top of the table so to beat them away from home was certainly a fine result. Sadly the U21s couldn’t quite emulate their juniors and lost narrowly (18-24). Those who were there have commented that the referee of the U21s game left a lot to be desired but it seems that the three sin binnings put pay to Quins chances of winning the match. The Quins tight forwards (Hopkins, Walton, Storrer, Cread and Parker) dominated their opposition and players such as Jarvis, Horstman and Reay getting on the score sheet. A number of the U21s team will look familiar – Chris Bell, Ugo Monye and Andy Reay have all had first team outings and Horstman, Jarvis, Barratt, Allen, Wilcox and Williams must be pushing for places in the first team squad for next season. It is a shame they couldn’t have won to make it a hat-trick over the Tigers but I suppose we can’t have everything.

The Ladies have finished third in their league having conceded the fewest points of any team. They were over in Ghent last weekend on tour and the ended up runners up in the tournament losing the final to Saracens who are two leagues above them so there was no shame losing the match. It seems that the ladies enjoyed the trip and most have come back in one piece.

From the fans point of view the new supporters’ association (Quinssa) has easily broken the 100 members mark and the target of 150 members by the end of the season looks very possible. Quinssa will be running the away coach to Gloucester and may even run two coaches to High Wycombe for the final away match of the season against Wasps. Click on the Quinssa button on the right hand menu and join up, the first General Meeting will be held next month.

So basically last weekend was a good one, we beat Leicester, we had yet another new match reporter in the shape of Dizzybird, we guaranteed Premiership rugby at The Stoop for next season, we didn’t pick up any more serious injuries and the first team get the chance to go to Gloucester and try and emulate the seconds who are the only team at any level to have beaten Gloucester at Castle Grim this season.


Come on you Quinssa!!!!