Quins v Stade Francais. Amlin Challenge Cup Final. Cardiff 2011.
A bit of a side track to my usual offering today. I was in Cardiff last night to watch the might Quins take on Stade Francais Paris at the Cardiff City Stadium. I am a season ticket holder. So a chance to see my boys in a European cup final was too good to miss. A lot rode on a Quins victory as it would guarantee a Heineken Cup spot in next years competition.
The game itself wasn’t a particularly brilliant one. An intriguing first half where the boots of Nick Evans and Stade Francais Lionel Beauxis were dominant. Quins went in at half time 9-6 up.
As the second half got underway Stade Francais began to dominate the game, capitalising on many Quins errors. With 2 drop goals and 2 more penalties to Stade, the evening seemed to be disappearing underneath the Cardiff night sky with only 1 penalty in reply for Quins.
With five minutes remaining, and the scoreline 18-12, I began to resign myself that it would be the French teams evening when Quins scrum half, Danny Care, sent a kick down field for Gonzalo Camacho to chase and put down in the corner. Nick Evans converted from a tight angle on the touchline to put Quins 19-18 up with 2 minutes to go. Squeaky bum time here.
A quick succession of scrums by Stade saw the game out and Harlequins become the first team to win the trophy 3 times and ensured Heineken cup rugby for the next season.
Quins full back Mike Brown with centre Jordan Turner-Hall
And a jubilant Magic back in the bar after.
Happy days.
COME ON YOU QUINS
….now what wine to celebrate with? mmmm.
