With a very young team taking the field for the NEC Harlequins and a lot of the 'new boys' getting their first run it was always going to be an interesting game. The first 40 minutes Quins played Montpellier and in the second half Beziers.
The French side started poorly, with the ball not going 10 metres and the resulting scrum collapsing, Quins were given a penalty on the half way line, which Andy Dunne kicked to touch on their 10 metre line.
After a good lineout and a resulting rolling maul, the ball was quickly moved right to Ugo Monye who ran left across the length of the pitch. This exciting run unfortunately did not result in a scoring opportunity as he tried to chip kick the ball to the fullback, but with a little too much on it, the ball went dead.
The first points of the game came from a try by Pat Sanderson in the fourth minute, after a successful throw in from hooker James Hayter, a rolling maul went over the line. The difficult conversion was missed by Andy Dunne 0-5, 4 minutes.
After being awarded a scrum from the restart Quins were penalised for a delayed put in giving the French side a free kick. Soon after, Quins gave away a penalty for hands in the ruck, but Montpellier missed the kick.
With Quins giving away too many penalties at scrums and rucks, the Montpellier kicker had the perfect opportunity to put points on the board, but had a poor game and missed another penalty and sent one touch kick dead.
The half-time score was still 0-5.
The second half started with Montpellier attacking well but the Quins defence was strong and managed to keep them out. The French side then scored a try very similar to Pat Sanderson's off a rolling maul from a line out. Their kicker got the conversion - 7-5, 6 minutes.
The ball was turned over after a French line out and Ceri Jones made a good and break up the middle, he drew the fullback in and sent a well timed pass to Tom Williams who ran in unopposed, Andy Dunne got the conversion 7-12, 13 minutes.
A minute before the full time whistle Montpellier scored and they ended up the winners 14-12.
Versus Beziers (second 40 minutes)
The only changes to the starting line up were Miall on for Evans in the second row and Adrian Jarvis for Andy Dunne at fly half.
Beziers had a strong start and Quins were again giving away too many penalties.
Ugo Monye delighted the local crowds with some dazzling running to lots of loud applause and 17 minutes into the half the home side were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck and the kick was successful giving Beziers a 3-0 lead.
Beziers starting attacking but some great defensive tackles kept them from scoring a try. They eventually got the ball over the line only for it to be held up. The pressure was finally relieved when the Beziers scrum half was penalised for stamping.
The half time score was 3-0.
Luke Sherriff made a good break, but sadly the ball was spilt forward. However, as advantage was being played the penalty was awarded and Adrian Jarvis slotted it from 40 metres.
A Beziers line out resulted in Quins ball and this lead to a great break by Chris Bell who was well supported by Kai Horstmann and Jarvis but sadly the ball was knocked on.
With another turnover Quins sent the ball left to Tom Williams who tried to chip over his opposite number but the ball rebounded off him only for Williams to re-gather and pass inside to Andy Reay who scored. Jarvis converted and the score was 3-10 on 7 minutes.
Simon Keogh left the field limping to be replaced by Ben Willis.
The next points for Quins came after Kai Horstmann made a break through the middle and was well supported by Bill Davison, Ben Willis, Adrian Jarvis and finally Tom Williams who scored in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed. 3-15, 14 minutes.
After a good lineout the ball went left to Andy Reay who made a break before offloading to Ben Willis who broke three tackles to score. The conversion was successful 3-22, 17 minutes.
Beziers ended up winning the trophy for scoring a bonus point in the first game for scoring four tries.
