They wanted it more than we did and our lot thought they had won as soon as they stepped out onto the field. Lets put things in perspective though, we are still top and in a great position. Its how you learn from things like this that make you winners, we need a big response next week. Im gonna make sure im faced in Edinburgh just in case we play as bad as we did tonight

Over the moon! You'll be chocking all night on your pies now! hahahahaha Come on Crusaders!!!!

Well I have just got back and Quins deserved the win. They ripped us apart in the 2nd half and deserved all their points.

We on the other hand panicked, tossed the ball away and basically blew most chances we created in the 2nd half.

The turning point for me was with about 17 mins to go we had just had four (I think) penalties in a row due to Quins doing professional fouls. Now why no one was binned after four in a row I do not know but that isn't the point. We were 5m out and had them on the rack. We were 6 points up so what do we do? Take the two points and take all the pressure off. It looked like we were going to try and defend an eight point lead for the last 15 mins or so and given the way Quins were breaking through with ease that was never going to happen. I am sure Quins were very happy to be able to boot the ball down the other end of the pitch at kick off. We needed the try.

Generally lots of things didn't work IMO. Ainscough must have thought he was back at Cas with Bailey as his centre. Bailey should never play there again IMO - they ran round him for two second half tries and I don't think the ball found itself out wide to Ainscough in a good position all evening. The Sam 7, Lockers 6 idea is another thing to be consigned to history IMO. TL came on at half time to do the draw but was limping so I can't see him back soon so I hope Deacon is fit next week and if he is then he must play.

If we have no players to return from injury I'd still drop Bailey and play one of the young centres bailey was that bad.

Dave

I dont give a monkey if Quins were the better team, you should never throw away an 18 point lead at home to the bottom club. It is unforgiveful. Add to the fact you thought the players would have learnt after throwing away an 20 point lead early in the season against an out of sorts Bradford side.

We were top and they were bottom for a reason. Its a shocking result and we need to sort this out asap.

Noble would never allow a lead to be thrown away like this...

Or maybe youve stopped punching above your weight?

We lost to far too many poor sides under Noble for your last sentence to be taken seriously.

That said we should not throw away such a lead but without making excuses nothing went right. Farrell made a great beak that may have led to a try but pulled up with what looked like cramp when clear. That was typical of our luck tonight and there were some monumentally stupid plays by senior players. Even Richard's hoofed the ball to nowhere following a break by Carmont and him. Ainscough may as well have been playing RU he saw so little attacking ball. It was very poor but unlike at Bradford we do have a bit of an injury crisis at the moment so I don't think the two games are comparable.

Dave

Dave my last comment was tongue in cheek, however fair enough I realised we have injuries and Harlequins may have been hitting form, but to throw away a lead like that again, to a team that was sitting bottom is poor. We cant make excuses for our team. We have been commenting all season on how we have a strong squad yet it wasnt strong enough to beat Quins.

If we are there or there abouts come the end of the season I will be happy and this result will be soon long forgotten, but for me its worrying after all the good work we have so far that we cant hold a sufficient lead without managing to do the basics.

Even if Deacon & Leuluai aren't fit next week, O'Loughlin needs to move back into the pack, he just isn't a stand off.

I'd play Phelps or Howarth with Tomkins.

Second big shock of the week. Hey, they couldn't be linked, could they!! Surely not, hold your nerve and have another beer (or 2)

hopefully we can have a few players back next week:

Phelps
Goulding Gleeson Carmont Richards
Tomkins Leuluai
Fielden Riddell Coley
Joel Farrell
Lockers

Prescott/Feka, O'Carroll, McIlorum, Mossop

I think Quins bottom position is misleading, though, largely a result of injuries that they've now got behind them. They're a much better side than that, as they showed against Saints a fortnight ago.

Like Bilko, I'm not too disappointed - but we do need some players back for next week.

Don't know who's back next week but Bailey at centre and Lockers at stand off can't be allowed to happen again. Phelps is still not a full back. What the hell was going on with the daft offloads? Can't see us turning over Hudds next week.

Give over! Quins are a poor team and to lose at home against them is very dissapointing.