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Articles by Derek Williams

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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

(Big Game 16): Harlequins 34 Leicester Tigers 34

It was business as usual for the Big Game before 82,000 at a sold-out Twickenham Alliance. Marcus Smith was back to his jinking running game and Caden Murley’s pace and power created 2 tries. However, with Quins leading by 7 points, in the dying embers Dan Cole went over for Leicester and [...]

December 29, 2024 // 0 Comments

Gloucester Rugby 14 Harlequins 0 (Rugby Premiership)

This was one of the most inept performances I have seen from Quins. Their big players – Marcus Smith, Fin Baxter, Chandler Cunningham South and Caden Murkey – failed to perform. In the first half they were comprehensively overwhelmed by the physicality of  the Cherry Reds. We expected [...]

December 21, 2024 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 24 Bath Rugby 26

Quins lost this thrilling encounter in the dying embers of the game. Whilst this is not the formidable Bath side of Gary Chilcott and  Jeremy Guscott they are still an excellent team with the likes of Sam Underhill, Finn Russell and Ollie Lawrence well coached by South African Johan van Graan. [...]

October 20, 2024 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 17 Saracens 10

It’s been 1700 minutes since Quins won theLondon bragging rights. On a weekend of no Premiership or Championship football the schedulers showed commendable planning by making this a rugby union Premiership derby weekend. We Quins fans view our north London neighbours as playing fast and loose [...]

October 14, 2024 // 0 Comments

Northampton Saints 33 Harlequins 29

Although there were tries aplenty in this clash last night between the reigning Premiership champions and the always entertaining Quins I was underwhelmed. Quins had a massive injury list (Tyrone Green, Caden Murley, Alex Dombrandt, Luke Northmore and Cassius Gleaves) causing Marcus Smith to play [...]

October 5, 2024 // 0 Comments

Tempus Fugit, as we always knew it did …

From time to time on this organ – or indeed sometimes (in real life) quite by chance, perhaps when either undertaking some trivial domestic task or reading a newspaper – one has occasion to reflect upon the passing of time. I had experienced one of the latter on Monday when glancing at [...]

September 11, 2024 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 28 Bristol Bears 53

It was no sort of farewell to Quins’ stalwarts André Esterhuizen, Will Collier and live-wire Louis Lynagh as we were routed by Bristol though neither side qualified for the play-offs. A more significant departure may be that of defensive coach Jerry Flannery to the Springboks as Quins have [...]

May 19, 2024 // 0 Comments

Exeter Chiefs 58 Harlequins 26

Maybe it was that gruelling Investec Cup semi -final against Toulouse – or maybe the injury to Caden Murley leading to a reshuffle with Marcus Smith going to full back – but, whatever it was, Quins collapsed 6-37 in the second half. Give Exeter their due. In Immanuel Feyi-Moboso they [...]

May 13, 2024 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 42 Northampton Saints 31

Although the press dubbed this match a “thriller” and “entertaining“, I remain disappointed by the fare the two most attacking teams in the Premiership served up. Northampton Saints did not maximise the three Quins players sin-binned. Marcus Smith won his match-up with Fin Smith and [...]

April 29, 2024 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 28 Glasgow Warriors 24 (Investec Cup)

The Comeback Kings are fast becoming the collapsible ones. 41-3 up against Bath Rugby, the game finished 41-34. Last night, after a sluggish start, Quins went 0-7 down but recovered to 21-7. In the second half Glasgow Warriors made it 24-21 and only a late try by Sam Riley and conversion by Marcus [...]

April 6, 2024 // 0 Comments

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