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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

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

Way to go, Joe!

Today I am breaking this season’s duck as the Rust’s correspondent upon all things to do with Harlequins FC in response to the overnight new that loose-head prop Joe Marler has announced his retirement from international rugby with immediate effect in order to spend more time with his young [...]

September 27, 2018 // 0 Comments

It’s that time of year again

Someone said to me in the pub the other day that the ongoing experience of being a committed one-club/team sports supporter is rather like a case of heroin or similar Class A drug addiction. First and foremost, you know it’s not doing you any good because 90% of the time – i.e. whenever things [...]

July 23, 2018 // 0 Comments

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