Wrecked at the Rec

Bath 3 Harlequins 19

I have seen Harlequin play at Bath twice and on both occasions, the home side was the deserved winner of the game. Bath are a tough, tough side and I thought it would be a year or two more before Quins would have it in them to beat them at the Rec - if they did at all. 

Yesterday, however, as I made my way to the Texas Embassy restaurant to meet Paul Burgin (of Mars Hill) and others, I checked the score on my mobile phone and was taken aback and, frankly, dead chuffed to see that Harlequins had scored not just a win but a really good one. Reading the report of the game on the Telegraph website backed up this impression. Bath were out scrummaged, kicked really badly (Butch James having a 'bad day at the office') and generally out thought. Super stuff.

When we left the restaurant, I happened to notice a plaque on the wall outside which referred to the RFU. It turns out that the Embassy stands on the site of the restaurant where the RFU was formed in 1871 - a meeting attended by representatives of Harlequins FC!

At the end of the evening, as I wended my way home, I stopped at a newspaper stall outside Leicester Square underground station and bought a copy of today's Observer. The opportunity to read a report of the game on the day it happened was too good to miss!

The point system of the Guinness Premiership means that despite this win, Quins do not retain their first place, won on Wednesday after the massive win over Worcester. Leicester Tigers also won yesterday, and in so doing, picked up a bonus point. They now lead the table by a point. There remains, however, everything to play for with only six points separating first place and sixth (Sale).

At the other end of the table, spare a thought for poor old Bristol. They lost 38 - 21 away to London Irish and are so relegated. As to who will replace them, this is less certain. The money has to be on Leeds Carnegie, who have a six point lead over Exeter Chiefs, but three games remain for Exeter to haul Leeds in.