Rain stops play...not likely

After a wet and waterlogged week it was a surprise to hear any rugby would be played in Devon at all. The Quins travelled with a young team, with numerous individuals playing out of position to meet with the Torbay Sharks on a far from firm Dartmouth pitch.

From the outset, it was clear the Sharks were using every pound of their weight advantage, playing old style rugby and utilising the experience of the pack.

Gaining good field position they pinned Quins into their own half for the first 25 minutes. Quins unable to get hold of the ball defended like seasoned veteran, refusing to yield to the relentless assaults from the old guns. With 28 minutes on the clock, a catch from the lineout saw a driving maul from the Sharks notch up the first try, that was miraculously converted.

With the restart underway and continual onslaughts being seen in the middle of the park, it was beginning to look like a scene from Jason and the Argonauts..The Clash of the Titans as Nige Berry Berry, Brad Skinner and Nick Smith dug deep to batter the Quins back into contention.

Second half underway and the Quins D line remain resolute, with great direction from the centre of the park the young threes line had some real tests in front of them.

The Sharks continued to steal at the breakdown with more hands on the floor than feet, the Quins were making ground only to lose out in the final sector of the park.

Once more, midway through the second half, field position gave the home team a 5 metre scrum. 8 men dug in, and for the first time in the half the Quins were unable to match the power. Sharks 14 Quins 0.

Remaining upbeat, the Quins bounced back, Marcus Garret and Joe Day digging deep from the back row to drive the Sharks into their own half. The pressure final showed and a break from the Quins 10 metre line saw Lloyd Watkins penetrate the gap and release Matt Wells for a run in under the posts from 20 metres out. With the conversion made it opened the last 10 minutes up for some punishing end to end stuff.

Quins worked hard to the final whistle, but finally the clock, conditions and about 150 years of rugby experience from the Sharks closed the game out.

A great game from an exceptionally young Quins side.

A big thanks to all the players, especially the young Colts who stepped up to the mark.