Quins/Quinssa/BPA Auction of Promises

If anyone else was one of the successful bidders in the recent Auction of Promises, we would love to hear from you to find out how your experience went or when you are planning on doing it.  Please contact Emma (rugbybird@quinssa.org.uk) if you were one of the lucky ones.

We were delighted to have heard from Ian Gatt, Matthew Constable and Bev Wills who have submitted articles for Quinssa.

England CrAshes by Bev Wills

For me, Lord’s is the ultimate cricket ground and England v Australia is the ultimate Test Match. Put the two together and you have the sporting highlight of the summer.

It looked as if I was going to miss out. Demand for tickets was high and those on offer were at “Giraffe” prices. Then CornyQuin had a stroke of bad luck. The tickets he won in the BPA auction turned up for the Friday not the Thursday. CQ could not go on Friday. Suddenly, I was the proud holder of two tickets, with an obligation to write this article - or face the wroth of Rugbybird!

The day started early. At 5.30 the engine sprang into life and we were off. Not the best time of the day for me, but as the saying goes “Needs must, the Devil drives”. (Good job, because I was too tired!)

Having done the “usual” going to events in Central London from “Up North”, park at Stanmore and catch the Tube, I enjoyed the first highlight of the day. On the way to the ground we stopped off at one of my favourite places for breakfast in the whole world – Richoux, in Circus Road. It carries my highest recommendation.

Duly fortified we arrived at the ground. As I took my aisle seat in the Compton Stand (Row Q), I looked across in horror to see that the next section to my right contained nothing but Aussies. I needn’t have worried. They were strangely subdued all day. On reflection, it probably had something to do with the fact that the average age of ‘Gulliver’s Travellers’ was ‘Pension+’!

After the events of Thursday there was a buzz of anticipation all around the ground as Ponting and the Aussies trotted on to the field. The highlight of the morning was undoubtedly the 4-6-4-1 sequence as Pietersen took 15 from the first four balls of a McGrath over. However, somebody needs to give him lessons in how to bat with the tail. The idea should be for him to farm the bowling – not 9, 10, Jack.

The afternoon proved to be a bit of an anti-climax. For me, Pietersen dropping Clarke on 21 turned out to be the turning point in the entire game. We had a bad couple of hours, before a spirited fight back at the end of the day. Too little, too late.

Strangest incident of the day came when a young man in a Quins replica shirt walked up the steps next to me. At my cry of “Come on you Quins” he hurriedly looked down and shot off at top speed! (Obviously still has some rehab to finish off!)

Despite the play on the field, the day was everything I expected. I wouldn’t have missed it. When can I apply for tickets for 2009?!

My Day with Harlequins by Matthew Constable

Just before Christmas my Grandfather placed bids on two of the lots in the Harlequins charity auction, hoping to win one of them as a surprise for me. To his surprise, he was the highest bidder for both, so I was told that I was to be given a fitness MOT by the coaches and a kicking class by Jeremy Staunton.

I am a keen rugby player, so I was very excited, although a bit apprehensive at having my fitness checked (especially just after Christmas!). I had expected to be told to turn up on two separate dates, but Anne McCarthy arranged for me to have both on the same day, and even very kindly arranged for it to coincide with my school half-term.

My fitness MOT lasted most of the afternoon and I was put on various machines that I did not even know existed. For example, they measured my tendon extension, which confirmed that I have been playing on the wrong side of the scrum all this time and would be better playing on the open side.

I did something called the RFU Test (better known as the Death Run), which the players do regularly, but it certainly lived up to its name and nearly killed me. Whenever a player heard during the day that I was going to do this they seemed genuinely sorry for me – very off putting. Put simply - you get 45 seconds to lay on your face, jump up run 5 metres forward, reverse 5 metres, drop onto face, get up, run 10 metres forward and return, drop onto face, get up and run 20 metres forward and return. For every second that you take below 45 seconds you get to rest then... You do it again... And again... The Backs stood and watched me and I was barely able to walk afterwards - which some of the squad thought was very funny.

Throughout the afternoon the players kept goading the coaches into letting me use a piece of equipment called the Gripper, so they did (unfortunately!) At first it seemed easy - I only had to pull down on a rope! But as the tension in the rope increased I was unable to pull it down and felt as if the skin on my hands was being removed. Luke Sheriff holds the club record for this at more than 50 metres in 30 seconds at the hardest setting.

My kicking class was fun and Jeremy tried to make me into a star kicker but only convinced me I should stay as a prop. Any dreams I had of being the next Johnny Wilkinson crashed and burned.

Whilst training with the squad I was very tempted to tackle someone, but worried that I would bounce off, and they would not even notice. Also as my technique is not to professional standard I could imagine ending up trapped underneath one of the giants.

Towards the end of the afternoon I had a bonus lesson with James Hayter who took me to the gym for Line Out throwing practice. I learnt a lot in this short space of time and my lineout throwing has noticeably improved since the session. The school coach thinks it will be crucial for next season and our South African tour

I had a brilliant time! Everyone was so friendly - handshakes from all the squad and even a Valentines hug - (my nose in a massive SWEATY armpit!!!) I even had lunch with the team and was allowed to sit in on the first team briefing for their following weekends match against Worcester. I got to hear all their secret tactics talk. (Luckily they didn't have to shoot me afterwards!)

Thank you to everyone... I can't wait for the next auction.

Matthew Constable aged 17

View from the Bench by Ian Gatt

I was the winner of the "Seat on the Bench" in the BPA Auction of Promises. I chose the Wasps' game on 2 January to occupy my seat and, result of the game aside, had a marvellous time.

The Wasps' game was to be the last time the West Stand was to be used before demolition and redevelopment and that added an extra dimension to the occasion.

On arrival in the dugout I had a brief chat with Mark Evans. Amidst the blare of the background noise from Mad Max and the crowd I played Chinese whispers with Mark. I thought he said "Would you like to come on at half time?" Thinking this was a joke (and having been teased by friends that I might expect to get a game) I replied that I hadn't played for a few years but had brought my boots with me. "No" said Mark "Would you like to come in at half time for the team talk?" Suitably embarrassed I gratefully accepted.

Pre-match a number of team members and coaching staff came up and chatted and I had my picture taken and spoke to Tani Fuga and Jim Evans. I was particularly grateful to Dave Bell (Strength and Fitness Coach) for his offer of some regimes for Jason's Leopards when training resumes later this year. He was obviously able to identify a man in need of a strength and fitness regime. 

Once the game started, the view from the bench was surprisingly good, given its low level. The added constant commentary from the replacements and coaching staff gave the game a new dimension - discussions as to likely lineout calls, tactics etc. abounded. There was a constant vocal urging of support for anyone pressing forward with the ball or who put in a crunching tackle. The discussion of LBND's killing of the ball in front of the Wasps posts to thwart Quins' best hope of a try shortly before half-time was particularly entertaining. "Ref-link" has proved popular. I suspect "Bench-link" would do so too. 

The other noticeable feature was that the replacements were straining at the leash - constantly moving in their seats or getting up to stretch or cycle on the exercise bike in the dug out. There was a real sense of eager anticipation crossed with a frustration and desire to get on the pitch. After 15 minutes, the replacements jumped up to warm up in the area behind the posts and Dave Bell teased me to join in. I politely declined. 

Half time came and the players trudged into the changing room. It was an immense privilege to stand and observe. For the first few minutes, the players sat in silence whilst Mark Evans quietly but firmly made a few key points: the tackling had to be quicker, harder, more aggressive - give Wasps less time and space at breakdowns; there was no scope for watching the action if it was happening in someone else's channel - the players had to be sharper.  The game was not lost. He kept it concise, simple and to the point. The atmosphere amongst the players was good. I felt they were frustrated with the first half performance and conscious of the quality of the opposition but very much up for it.

The players and coaches then split into smaller huddles - forwards, backs to discuss finer points. The half-time replacements were notified to Mike Scott and the necessary paperwork completed.

The second half re-started. Wasps scored quickly from the re-start and I felt the power and effect of the half-time talk evaporate away. You often hear commentators talk of the importance of scoring points shortly before half-time or quickly after the re-start, but I really felt the impact of that Wasps try on the bench. 

The second half seemed to fly by. Further substitutions were made. Simon Miall (with whom I had enjoyed a very interesting chat in the first half) went on for Simon Maling who took Miall's seat on the bench next to me. At 6' 6" he seemed to dwarf me (6' 3") and steamed away gently before putting on his tracksuit. Sherriff and Dunne also replaced Diprose and Staunton.

Late tries from Keogh and Harder showed what the team can achieve but by that time the exodus from the East Stand was disappointingly all too evident.

There has been a lot of "knocking copy" on the Comeallwithin website in recent months, borne out of the anger and frustration of many supporters at the lack of results and, occasionally, the perceived lack of commitment on the part of some players and coaching staff. On the basis of my limited insight into the team and coaching staff this is unwarranted. They are a highly motivated, professional and proud bunch of players and coaches who, in my view, are as frustrated as their supporters at the lack of positive results.