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 case of familiarity breeding contempt

Saturday 17th February 2018: Aviva Premiership Round 15; Leicester Tigers v Harlequins at Welford Road, kick-off 3.00pm; Result – Leicester Tigers 33 Harlequins 18; Leicester Tigers 5 points (win plus four-try bonus point), Harlequins 0 points; Standings after Round 15 – Leicester Tigers 7th on [...]

February 18, 2018 // 0 Comments

‘Same old, same old’ fare at the Stoop

Sunday 11th February 2018: Aviva Premiership Rugby – Round 14: Harlequins v Wasps at the Stoop, kick-off 1.00pm: Result – Harlequins 22 Wasps 44: New League positions – Wasps 3rd on 44 points, Quins 9th on 32. Wasps team photo (19th Century) It was another in the ongoing fierce [...]

February 12, 2018 // 0 Comments

Next stop decline and fall?

Most Sundays I manage to acquire a copy of an excellent publication for those interested in the sport (The Rugby Paper) – I say that because, when he remembers, my local newsagent holds one back for me. Here’s the text of an article that begins on its front page today – I should [...]

February 4, 2018 // 0 Comments

Upon being bored into submission (a treatise)

Friday 2nd February 2018: Anglo-Welsh Cup Round 4: Northampton Saints v Harlequins at Franklin’s Gardens, kick-off 7.45pm: Result – Northampton Saints 36 Harlequins 10: Latest position – Northampton Saints qualify for the knockout stage, Harlequins will now have to rely upon results elsewhere [...]

February 3, 2018 // 0 Comments

Another near miss

Saturday 27th January 2018: Anglo-Welsh Cup: Scarlets v Harlequins: Result – Scarlets 7 Harlequins 35; Outcome – Quins progress one step further to a semi-final spot in the competition. Followers of this column know the form – if they wish to learn about the ebbs, flows and any other details [...]

January 28, 2018 // 0 Comments

Making the best of a bad situation

Sunday 21st January 2018 – European Champions Cup Pool 1; La Rochelle v Harlequins at Stade Marcel Deflandre: La Rochelle 16 Harlequins 7. Final Pool 1 positions: La Rochelle 20 points; Wasps 17; Ulster 17; Harlequins 7. And so Harlequins ended their 2017-2018 ERCC campaign as bottom of Pool 1, [...]

January 22, 2018 // 0 Comments

A truly extraordinary match!

Saturday 13th January 2018: European Rugby Champions Cup (Pool Stage): Pool 1 (teams – La Rochelle, Ulster, Harlequins, Wasps): Round 5 – Harlequins v Wasps at the Stoop, kick-off 5.30pm: Result – Harlequins 33 Wasps 28: consequences – Harlequins already out of the competition, Wasps now [...]

January 14, 2018 // 0 Comments

Another loss on the road

Saturday 6th January 2018: Aviva Premiership, Round 13: Sale Sharks v Harlequins at the AJ Bell Stadium (attendance 7,242): Result – Sale Sharks 30 Harlequins 29: new league positions – Sale Sharks 6th on 33 points, Harlequins 9th on 32 points. This needn’t take long. I didn’t attend this [...]

January 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

One that went off half-cock

Saturday 30th December 2017: Aviva Premiership, Round 12: Harlequins v Northampton Saints at Twickenham Stadium (Big Game 10), kick off 4.00pm: Result – Harlequins 50 (league points 5) Northampton Saints 21 (league points 0): new league table positions – Harlequins now 7th on 30 points, [...]

December 31, 2017 // 0 Comments

Christmas weekend misery

Saturday 23rd December 2017: Aviva Premiership rugby, Round 11: Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins at Kingston Park, Newcastle: Result: Newcastle 11 (4 league points) Harlequins 10 (one losing bonus point): latest League positions – Newcastle 7th on 28 Points, Harlequins 9th on 25 points. Today I can [...]

December 24, 2017 // 0 Comments

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ITV COVERAGE OF CHELTENHAM

March 14, 2026 // 0 Comments

I am in the camp of watching on tv rather than attending for the 3 Cs: cost , convenience and comfort. With the cost of travelling and attending Cheltenham and last [...]
Max Schmelling/ The Good German

March 4, 2026 // 0 Comments

In the unlikely event that I would be asked to nominate a Great Life on Matthew Parris ‘ show my choice would be the Black Uhlan Max Schmelling. In the 1930s thee [...]
The Tanner Report : Fulham 2 spurs 1

March 3, 2026 // 0 Comments

Prior to Fulham ‘s comfortable win over Spurs (2-1) I watched the big match Revisited featuring Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 i guess in the early 70s It would be foolish to [...]
The Six Nations

February 24, 2026 // 0 Comments

The Six Nations continues to throw up surprises. England could not bounce back against Ireland , a resurgent Wales gave Scotland à close game with the Millennium Stadium [...]
Brentford 0 Brighton 2

February 23, 2026 // 0 Comments

The heat is off Fabian Hürzeler with Brighton ‘s 1st win in 13 games. Club owner Tony Bloom was not at the G Tech stadium due to a long planned family engagement but had [...]