Articles by Derek Williams

About Derek Williams

A recently-retired actuary, the long-suffering Derek has been a Quins fan for the best part of three decades. More Posts

A “Road to Damascus” moment?

Yesterday (Sunday), probably mentally unbalanced by the effects of prolonged lockdown, I gritted my teeth and built my day around BT Sport’s ‘live’ coverage of the Premiership rugby match between Harlequins and Northampton Saints at the Stoop [commencing at 2.00pm, kick-off 3.00pm]. Having [...]

March 8, 2021 // 0 Comments

If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes …

Yesterday out of the blue – simply because it was there – I opted to watch yesterday’s Premiership rugby match between Wasps and the Harlequins at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry which was being broadcast ‘live’ by BT Sport. Wasps and Quins have a long ‘London derby’ rivalry that began in [...]

February 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

Back – and in the groove again

One of Frankie Howard’s signature catch-phrase lines was often deployed where – in a stand-up routine and/or a television sit-com – he “stepped out of character” to address his audience directly, made arch fun of someone and then, as his live (or television) audience burst into [...]

January 26, 2021 // 0 Comments

Ah well, there’s always next season …

Saturday 5th September 2020: English Premiership – Round 18 – Harlequins v Bath Rugby at The Stoop, kick-off 2.00pm. Result: Harlequins 27 Bath Rugby 41. Harlequins 0 league points: Bath Rugby 5 league points (1 bonus). New league positions: Bath Rugby 5th, on 50 points; Harlequins 8th, on 37 [...]

September 6, 2020 // 0 Comments

Back in the fold again …

No longer able to claim my former status as a correspondent – I unofficially retired from my post as a contributor on matters relating to English rugby Premiership team Harlequins three or four years ago (depending upon which season/year one is talking about) having become disillusioned with both [...]

August 10, 2020 // 0 Comments

Going through the motions

Some older readers may remember my former life wherefrom I reported for the Rust upon matters pertaining to Harlequins FC, the Premiership rugby union club from a personal viewpoint as an unabashed and devoted – not to say one-eyed – fan and supporter. About three seasons ago all that [...]

November 17, 2019 // 0 Comments

The countdown commences

All week we read of historic victories over the All Blacks and how to beat them from the wiseacres. For me this is the wrong approach and only highlighting their aura of invincibility. That great producer of results Brian Clough would get the team totally drunk, tell them to play their natural game [...]

October 25, 2019 // 0 Comments

I was one, but I’m over it now

As a former columnist I have remained both a member of the Rust ‘family’ and a regular reader since I voluntarily quit after failing to renew my season tickets and unofficially quitting as a Harlequins fan nearly two years ago now. At the time I subsequently continued posting to the website for [...]

April 7, 2019 // 0 Comments

England have serious issues to address before RWC

Some two seasons now into my ‘break’ from Quins – a state of mind akin to that of a recovering alcoholic, i.e. (medical folklore has it) never cured but at best in ongoing temporary remission – yesterday I settled down with family and friends to watch the final afternoon of 2019 Six [...]

March 17, 2019 // 0 Comments

Any more like this and I might get my mojo back

Saturday 6th November 2018: Gallagher Premiership Round 6: Harlequins v Saracens at The Stoop, kick-off 7.30pm: Result – Harlequins 20 Saracens 25: League points – Harlequins 1 losing bonus point, Saracens 4 points for the victory: new League Table positions – Saracens 2nd (6 wins from 6 [...]

October 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

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Thoughts on the European Super League

April 20, 2021 // 0 Comments

If nothing else the proposed European Super League (ESL) of the major clubs of England, Italy and Spain has done something unique: united the disparate and diverse elements [...]
The Tanner Report: Arsenal 1 Fulham 1

April 19, 2021 // 0 Comments

To concede a goal late in the 7th minute of extra time is gut-wrenching but, when it costs you the final lifeline of survival, doubly so. Had we won we would have closed the [...]
A Taste of Honey (1961) and The Family Way (1966)

April 18, 2021 // 0 Comments

A Touch of Honey is based on a Shelagh Delaney play which she wrote when just eighteen. It’s set in the industrial landscape of Salford and was the first and acclaimed [...]
County championship woes

April 17, 2021 // 0 Comments

The county cricket championship is under way and Sussex CCC have the thin end of the bat. The mini league format of the last Covid-stricken season was re-adopted with Sussex [...]
What’s it all about?

April 17, 2021 // 0 Comments

My subject for today – illustrated by two examples – is the vexed one of how the human race copes with life on a planet with finite resources on the one hand and [...]