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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

The process of waving goodbye

There comes a time in the affairs of men and mice when something happens – one might describe it as hitting a watershed – which causes us, for example, to let go of a previously-held firm conviction and switch to another, or perhaps it involves accepting that we cannot do this or that which [...]

May 27, 2023 // 0 Comments

DHL Stormers 32 Harlequins 28

The narrowness of the final score should not disguise the total supremacy of the Cape side in this Heineken Cup Tie. Quins scored 4 tries in the closing minutes which brought a semblance of respectability to the score line and a game Stormers dominated. There was something of a carnival atmosphere, [...]

April 2, 2023 // 0 Comments

Saracens 34 Harlequins 26

Yesterday I made the somewhat arduous journey to the Tottenham Stadium with 55,000 other spectators to see the match billed as a showdown between the two great London teams from North and West London. It hurts me to say it but Sarries were worthy winners in an entertaining contest in which Quins [...]

March 26, 2023 // 0 Comments

Six Nation rugby/ England 10 France 53

Like no doubt several million English sports fans yesterday, I settled in front of my snug’s television screen shortly after 4.00pm in order to watch the live build-up to the rugby union clash at Twickenham Stadium between England and France and then the match itself – kick off scheduled [...]

March 12, 2023 // 0 Comments

Champagne Quins

It was pretty much a given that, once discarded from the England squad, Marcus Smith would showcase his talent in the Big Game 14 clash against Exeter Chiefs yesterday. He was man of the match in an emphatic Quins win of 40-5. Quins reversed their losing sequence of 5 defeats in some style. Danny [...]

March 5, 2023 // 0 Comments

Six Nations: Wales 10 England 20

I suspect that when someone begins his tale with a line that – the day before – he had spent the day having a pub lunch and then watching the Six Nations clash between Wales and England on television together with a former England rugby player who made his international debut in Cardiff [...]

February 26, 2023 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 39 Sharks Cell C 29

The game was billed as the last game of Nick Evans, the Kiwi ex-fly half & Quins coach, before joining the England set up for the Six Nations but in truth it was more about South Africa. The Durban Sharks travelled economy class from 34* to 3* temperatures with Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth but no [...]

January 23, 2023 // 0 Comments

RIP David Duckham

Any sports fan – particularly any adherent of rugby union – over the age of fifty will be sad to have learned overnight of the passing on Monday 9th January of the great England centre/wing David Duckham, winner of 36 England caps – 3 with the British & Irish Lions – a [...]

January 11, 2023 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 16 Sale Sharks 24

It’s been a poor start to the year for Quins – losing to Northampton Saints and Joe Marler being banned for 6 weeks, 4 of which are suspended. On top of this they ended 2022 with a defeat by Bristol Bears and Marcus Smith, Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Greene are currently unavailable. Coach Nick [...]

January 9, 2023 // 0 Comments

Harlequins – a Tour d’Horizon

This is not my favourite time of the year – it reminds me of the lockdown with confusion as to what day it is as one blends inevitably into another. Add strikes and universal financial concerns and a war in Europe. Like many I take refuge in sport in general and Harlequins in particular. I am [...]

December 28, 2022 // 0 Comments

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