Despite playing into the wind and rain in the first half, Quins opened the scoring with just a couple of minutes on the clock thanks to a penalty from Tom Williams. A fine break from Williams then resulted in the opening try of the night shortly after this, as Tom Allen and Roy Winters combined following the fly half's burst to send Bill Davison over in the right hand corner and put the visitors 8-0 in front.

The home sides response was immediate and after Nick Defty put Wasps first points on the board with a penalty, he then converted a try from Ian Clarke who powered his way over from close range. Prop Alistair McKenzie scored Wasps second try following a catch and drive from the pack, though Defty failed to add the two extra points. Trailing 15-8, Quins hit back with three tries in the space of ten minutes.

Another cracking break from Williams took play deep into the Wasps twenty-two and his chip through was weighted perfectly for Matt Moore, who had the simple task of touching down. Moore was then at the heart of the next try for full back Mike Brown, as the winger raced down the left flank before Brown capitalized on quick ball to sprint over from ten metres out. Williams successful conversion put Quins back in front by three points (18-15).

Another Williams chip through the Wasps defence resulted in a try for James Hayter, who fell on the loose ball after it rebounded off the post. Williams conversion followed by a penalty took Quins two scores clear (28-15). A try from flanker Tom Rees, converted by Defty, cut the deficit to six points and it was then former Quin Peter Richards who put the home side back in front.

Between them, wingers Moore and Henry Barrett took play from the Quins line up to the Wasps twenty-two but as the move continued, Moore had his pass intercepted and Richards had no problems sprinting clear to claim a try under the posts. Defty's conversion put Wasps back in the lead by a point but a third Williams penalty with the final kick before half-time meant it was Quins who took a two-point advantage going into the second half (31-29).

Ten minutes after the restart and Quins stretched their lead as captain Luke Sherriff finished off a superb catch and drive from the pack that started 20 metres from the line. Back came Wasps once again and winger Michael Roberts made the most of a poor clearance from Ben Willis to race clear for a score that Defty converted to tie the score at 36-points apiece.

As the game was about to enter the final quarter, Shane Roiser sprinted clear down the right to score in the corner but crucially the conversion was missed from wide out. With ten minutes left on the clock and after recycling possession through various phases of play, it was Horstmann who side-stepped a couple of defenders giving him a clear run to the line and to touchdown under the posts, presenting Williams with the simplest of conversions.

Quins defence held firm in the time that remained, though Harvey Biljon failed with a difficult penalty attempt that would have put Wasps back in front. Williams too failed to convert a penalty from just short of halfway but by preventing the home side from breaking down field and scoring, Quins were delighted to hear the final whistle at the next stoppage in play.

Final score, 41-43.

London Wasps: 15. R. Laird, 14. S. Roiser, 13. M. Ireland, 12. A. Erinle, 11. M. Roberts, 10. N. Defty, 9. P. Richards (Capt.), 1. A. McKenzie, 2. B. Gotting, 3. S. Philips, 4. J. Dunne, 5. J. Hart, 6. I. Clarke, 7. T. Rees, 8. Lumby

Replacements: 16. H. Biljon, 17. M. Whitehead, 18. K. Logan, 19. L. Brown, 20. J. Filler, 21. T. French, 22. J. Barrett, 23. R. Shaw, 24. K. Logan

Scorers:
Tries: Clarke, McKenzie, Rees, Richards, Roberts, Roiser
Conversions: Defty (4)
Penalties: Defty

NEC Harlequins: 15. M. Brown, 14. H. Barrett, 13. T. Allen, 12. R. Jewell, 11. M. Moore, 10. T. Williams, 9. B. Willis, 1. C. Jones, 2. J. Hayter, 3. L. Gomez, 4. B. Davison, 5. R. Winters, 6. C. Cracknell, 7. L. Sherriff (Capt.), 8. K. Hortsmann

Replacements: 16. C. Dott, 17. T. Muggridge, 18. S. Miall, 19. G. Hart, 20. S. Bemand, 21. S. Crawley

Scorers:
Tries: Davison, Moore, Brown, Hayter, Sherriff, Hortsmann
Conversions: Williams (2)
Penalties: Williams (3)