Articles by Derek Williams

Wasting my time, but not as much as I might have …

Wednesday 16th November: Harlequins v Maori All Blacks at the Stoop (part of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations), kick-off 7.45pm: Result: Harlequins 10 Maori All Blacks 26. About three weeks ago, both because I was being repeatedly reminded of it by the club and felt something of an [...]

November 17, 2016 // 0 Comments

Getting out for some fresh air

Saturday 5th November: Anglo-Welsh Cup Round 1: Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs at the Stoop, kick-off 5.30pm: result – Harlequins 29 – Exeter Chiefs 15. By way of introduction for the benefit of those who may have little or no interest in rugby union or – hard as this may be for the rest of us to [...]

November 6, 2016 // 0 Comments

Curate’s eggs rarely satisfy

Saturday 29th October 2016: Aviva Premiership Round 7: Harlequins v Worcester Warriors at the Stoop. Result: Harlequins 36 (5 league points including 1 bonus for scoring 4 tries) Worcester Warriors 14 (0 league points). When you think about it I should imagine that there are probably as many [...]

October 30, 2016 // 0 Comments

Same old, same old …

Saturday 22nd October; European Rugby Challenge Cup group stage – Edinburgh Rugby v Harlequins at Murrayfield, kick-off 3.00pm. Result: Edinburgh 36 Harlequins 35. As it happens, I am happy to report that, due to family circumstances, while this game was taking place ‘north of the Border’ and [...]

October 23, 2016 // 0 Comments

An okay evening I suppose

Thursday 13th October: European Challenge Cup group stage – Harlequins v Stade Francais as the Stoop, kick-off 7.45pm. Result: Harlequins 43 (five points) Stade Francais 21 (0 points). Last night’s trip to a less than 60% full Stoop (why do organisers of these competitions insist upon midweek [...]

October 14, 2016 // 0 Comments

Sometimes, despite all efforts, it comes to this

Saturday 8th October 2016: Aviva Premiership Round 6: Harlequins v Northampton Saints at the Stoop. Result: Quins 20 (4 league points) Northampton Saints 9 (0 league points). Latest league position: Harlequins 8th, Northampton Saints 9th. The above brief details will just about provide the reader [...]

October 9, 2016 // 0 Comments

Quinswatch: It’s grim down south

Monday 3rd October: Harlequins A v Exeter Braves in the Aviva Premiership ‘A’ League. Kick-off advertised as 7.30pm, actual 7.45pm. Result: Harlequins A 22 Exeter Braves 38. Almost by chance I visited the Harlequins official website mid-morning yesterday and noticed for the first time that the [...]

October 4, 2016 // 0 Comments

Quins-watch: a case of making best use of one’s time

Sunday 2nd October 2016. Aviva Premiership – Wasps v Harlequins at Coventry. Result: Wasps 47 (5 points) Harlequins 18 (0 points). Yesterday was a singular success. In weather more reminiscent of a July or August summer’s day rather than an October one, we had set up a family outing involving [...]

October 3, 2016 // 0 Comments

The Rising

Saturday 24th January 2016: Aviva Premiership Round 4. Harlequins v Saracens at the Stoop, kick-off 3.00pm. Result: Quins 17 (4 league points), Saracens 10 (1 losing bonus point). It is a fact that, from every spectator’s viewpoint, all sporting events – great or small – spring from the wider [...]

September 25, 2016 // 0 Comments

Quinswatch (Match 2): even the radio is misfiring

Aviva Premiership 9th September 2016: Sale Sharks v Harlequins at the AJ Bell Stadium, kick-off 8.15pm. Result: Sale Sharks 19 (4 league points) Harlequins 10 (0 league points). In my lifetime I have twice driven up Manchester way in order to attend Harlequins away matches against Sale Sharks – a [...]

September 10, 2016 // 0 Comments