At times we played some tremendous rugby, but Barbarian style rugby is not what is called for in a relegation battle when the team is playing for NEC Harlequins Zurich Premiership survival, as well as for many people's jobs that revolve around the business that is a Premiership rugby club.

Despite that, and despite missing the opportunity of gaining a further four points and our first away win of the season, we are a little better off than we were before the weekend, having drawn level with Bath and Leeds due to the bonus point we collected. At the time that we were 17-3 down to Bristol, I received a text message telling me that Leeds were beating London Irish 17-6 - to hear that they lost at the end of the game was some relief.

With only four games to go there is little opportunity for further slip-ups. That is not to say that we will need to win all four games to survive, although it would help, but we must play in a more pragmatic style, we must look after the ball, make our tackles and take our chances as and when they come along.

Even in defeat there were some outstanding performances particularly from Dan Luger, Tony Diprose, Nick Greenstock and Keith Wood.

For the third week running the curse of the number seven shirt struck again. This time Ace Tiatia tore his calf muscle and is likely to be out for the next three to four weeks. If the regulations allowed us, I think the time has come to retire our number seven shirt having lost Pat Sanderson and Tu Tamarua in the previous two games for the rest of this season.

During the next ten days we will see some crucial games for the four teams battling to avoid the relegation drop. Next Wednesday, Bath travel to London Irish and the following Saturday they are at home to Leeds in what is a massive game for both clubs, while Saracens will be at home to London Wasps. On Sunday 14th April, we play London Irish at The Madjeski Stadium, where once again I would like to call for the type of support we had at Bristol last weekend. The noise coming from the Quins supporters throughout the whole game was incredible, topped off by the roar when referee Tony Spreadbury gave us the Penalty Try which earned us the crucial bonus point - you would have thought we had won the Premiership!

There are some very interesting stories going around the press at the moment about the relegation issue - Rotherham not coming up, two conferences of seven / eight etc. In truth we know nothing about any of these, but are completely focussed on ensuring that NEC Harlequins finish 11th or higher in the league. Not what you would consider a successful season, but something we would all accept at the present time.

Have a good weekend, especially those of you travelling to Italy to support England, and look forward to speaking to you next week.