Programme Notes
Friday 19th March 2004: v Leicester Tigers
Today we hope for revenge!
After what seems like ages ZP action returns to The Stoop for this afternoon’s game against Leicester Tigers. We welcome their team, management and supporters today. Last Friday we narrowly lost to today’s opponents with a late converted try putting a little gloss on the score line. Today we hope for revenge! In recent years league wins against Leicester have been a little thin on the ground, but cup wins have been plentiful including one in the ZP Heineken Cup thingy eliminator at the end of last season.
Our last home game stretches the memory somewhat, it was nearly seven weeks ago in a narrow win over our Berkshire triangle neighbours, Saracens. It’s been a year of close matches, both wins and draws. It’s great for the TV and the neutrals but it doesn’t always do the other spectators a lot of good!
One of the toughest challenges awaiting both sides will be the need to regain focus and momentum. We are entering a crucial phase of the season and with the league table so close, there is much to play for. We still have three avenues to possible Heineken Cup qualification open to us for next season. The simplest will be gaining a place on merit by finishing up the table, although that might be a bit tough now. The next is through the Parker Pen Cup, although all four teams remaining would be worthy winners. Our two games against Connacht are eagerly awaited and Quinssa have helped with the travel for many fans planning to trek over to west Ireland.
Time does fly by. On Wednesday coming Quinssa will be one year old. Some thought we wouldn’t even get this far! But a healthy membership of over 350 testifies to something else. As members will already know our 1st AGM will soon be upon us on the 11th June. We hope as many of our members will be able to make the evening and make their voices heard as well. It’s been an action packed year with many highlights. Just a few have been …… the balloon race, the coaches (including coaches in two foreign countries), the mid season bash, the calendar, the fund raising, the friendships made and much else. So raise your glass at some point this afternoon and toast to the next year of Quinssa.
Before then we have a couple of away trips that we are running coaches for, London Irish on Sunday 4th April and the last game of the season on Saturday 8th May at Northampton Saints. If you want a coach seat and a match ticket for either of these games then see me at the Quinssa desk in the East Stand bar before today’s game. Coaches are proving quite popular at the moment so please don’t leave it until the last moment before you try to book. There’s plenty else going on, so visit our stand and introduce yourself.
Enjoy the game!
Will Warner
Quinssa Chairman (will@quinssa.org.uk)
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