Programme Notes
Saturday 7th February 2004: v Saracens
An exciting time at Quins
Today we welcome our near neighbours Saracens back to the hub of our capital city. We hope their players, supporters and management enjoy their stay at The Stoop. This is the third fixture between the sides this year having met here for an early September pre-season friendly, narrowly won and in Watford for a narrow high scoring defeat. Sarries are having a mixed season, now out of Europe but still in the Powergen with an interesting fixture at Sale awaiting them. Their league form has been a bit patchy and they remain, in many people’s opinions, perennial domestic underachievers.
It’s absolutely ages since our last home league. You’ll have to go back to late November to find the last one. Since then we have played a variety of cup games and the annual friendly against Natal Sharks. Last week, in far away Brive, despite a narrowish loss, our success continued in the Parker Pen Cup. We now progress to the semi finals where we will meet Connacht, who play in Galway in west Ireland, in a two-legged contest in April. We have many connections with Connacht and the region, Gavin Duffy was signed from there in the summer, Mel Deane has also played there and John Kingston spent several years coaching in Galway. By now all Quinssa members would have received travel guidance, it will also be available on our web site at www.quinssa.org.uk. We hope as many fans as possible will make the journey out there, you’ll have a great time and the scenery is pretty special as well!
Our next coach is a bit of an odd one, Wasps on Sunday February 22nd with a 6pm kick off. The game is also being shown live on Sky and we are of course expecting to the double over them for the second year in a row. We will also be running coaches to London Irish and Northampton. I realise these games are a long way away but after today League games start to get few and far between. So book your seats for these on our Quinssa table in the East stand before the match today. From now on the price includes an adult match ticket as well.
This is an exciting time at Quins, the ground development has just been announced so too has the chance to buy into the future with the next lot of debentures. The team have much to play for on the pitch with the aim of a Heineken Cup place being aggressively tackled on two fronts.
The next Greene King Pub night will soon be upon us. It’s at the Royal Oak in Teddington from 7.30pm on Thursday 19th February. This is a great chance to meet some of the players and generally have a good laugh. Why not go along?
There’s lots of other things going on as well so visit either our stand before the game or have a look at our web site at www.quinssa.org.uk.
Have a great day and enjoy the very special Harlequins’ experience!
Will Warner
Quinssa Chairman
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