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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 barnstorming Alex Dombrandt laid claim to an England recall though there is a hot competition for the back row.

Will Porter looked better than Danny Care at scrum half. Care can count himself lucky not to have been red-carded – the threat of which was why he was subbed.

Quins have depth. They lost Joe Marchant to Stade Français, so Oskar Beard stepped up to the plate: Luke Northmore was called up and scored a couple of tries but at the end of the season we will have to replace André Esterhuizen. Tough.

We are currently just off the play-off places but only by goal difference to Bristol Bears.

Next Sunday in the Investec “European” Challenge Cup we travel to the formidable Toulouse and Northampton go to Dublin to face Leinster.

I cannot see Quins repeating their bravura performance over Bordeaux Bègles but remain confident that this side can give a good account of themselves.

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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