"We knew last week (12th October 2002) and the week before against Ulster that we had underperformed," said Caerphilly number eight Andrew Williams, a Management Accountant and one of a number of part-time players with the club.

"We had to come up here and give a good account of ourselves and get back on track and get ready for the Welsh/Scottish league and Newport in ten days time."

"The boys were very disappointed about the result last week, and coming off the back of the defeat the week before we felt that we desperately needed a good performance to get ourselves back on track. We knew that we could play and I think today's result just showed that."

The Castletown men couldn't have got off to a worse start at the Stoop and with Quins 7-0 up after barely a minute, thoughts of another mauling did cross Williams mind.

"There was always that in the back of the mind," continued the former Wales 'A' cap. "But we drummed it into ourselves this week that whatever happened we weren't going to drop our heads, and we were going to give it our best for the full 80 minutes."

"Conceding that early try was a bit of a wake-up call, and we said 'look let's get back into it' and we went up field and scored a try."

And it was not the only time that Caerphilly - without a win all season - went up field and embarrassed their host, matching Quins try for try before the break to turn around only four points, or two conversions, behind. Caerphilly then took the lead early in the second half with a fourth try and if the conversions had gone over then Quins could have been in serious trouble.

"We must have had three or four penalties and three or four conversions that we missed. In fairness, Allen Chiltern, the guy taking the kicks doesn't normally kick. Our regular goal-kicker (Luke Richards) dislocated his collar bone last week, so Alan was forced into emergency duty, and like you say a couple more kicks and we could have won the game."

"It was a bit disappointing. I think we created enough chances to come out on top and as it was, it was a four point deficit at the end. Disappointed that we didn't get the win but I think that we are on the right lines again."

Head coach Mark Ring was full of praise for his team after the game.

"I am immensely proud of my side," said Ring. "It was also very important for us that we came through and came through well, but the toughest thing this week was in lifting the players after two heavy defeats. We were trying to rebuild moral, and in those sort circumstances it is tough."

Williams feels that last weekend could prove to be a major turning point for Caerphilly, and their performance should be the bench mark to strive for in their Welsh/Scottish league campaign.

"I think that last week is going to be huge for us," continued Williams. "Today was make or break for us. If we lost again on the back of the last two defeats then our heads would have dropped."

"It just goes to show that the boys pulled together for the coaching staff and management, almost got the result that we were looking for, but certainly the performance was there and confidence now is only going to get better and better."

"We've got Munster away next Friday, which isn't going to be an easy task, but once again we've got to look upon it as a stepping stone for the Newport game, which is the more vital one. They haven't won a game either, the pressure is mounting on them and I think it is an ideal opportunity for us to get three points down at Rodney Parade."