High time for Greenwood

Harlequins 12 Saracens 1

The proximity of Twickenham across the road was one reminder of the imminent Six Nations' Championship; the sight of Will Greenwood's intuitive passing and deft kicks was another. After an eventful week, even by a World Cup winner's standards, the England centre declared himself fit and ready for international duty.

The issue appeared in doubt when Greenwood clashed heads with his team-mate George Harder. Both required stitches - 10 for Harder, three for Greenwood - but were able to play on, and in Greenwood's case it was merely one more legitimate excuse for a bout of giddiness.

Last Saturday, his wife Caro delivered the couple's second son, Archie, after their first child, Freddie, had passed away on the day he was born 16 months ago. Then on Wednesday evening there was the excitement of Greenwood's beloved Manchester City's cup comeback at Spurs. Sir Clive Woodward, who was watching, relayed the news by phone as the fourth goal went in. "An amazing week," said Greenwood yesterday, with feeling.

He was far from the only Harlequin in the wars. Paul Burke, having kicked four penalties in the first half, was taken off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace after driving headfirst into a tackle from Richard Hill eight minutes into the second half. The former Ireland fly-half was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, having shown he had movement in his limbs.

The flow of the first half had been interrupted by three blood replacements to Quins players, while the lock Jim Evans went off permanently with a dislocated shoulder. But Saracens, having scored the only try in the 13th minute, chipped away at Quins' 12-7 half-time lead with all the effectiveness of a pair of nail scissors sawing away at a giant redwood. Robbie Kydd's penalty after 71 minutes made sure of a bonus point, but the visitors never threatened Quins' 22 in the second half.

The downside of fielding a less-than-fully-fit Thomas Castaignède was evident when Saracens, awarded a penalty close to their own line near the end, needed to find touch. Morgan Williams tossed the ball to Castaignède, who gave it to Kydd, who lobbed it to Kevin Sorrell, who launched a sliced effort that fell 15 metres infield.

Hill, having his second run-out since missing five matches with a broken nose, was the source of the try, taking a line-out at the tail and feeding Craig Yandell. Emiliano Bergamaschi took the ball on, Castaignède and Sorrell established a maul and the forwards joined in to force over the 21-year-old prop Ben Broster. The conversion by Kydd, though given by the touch judges, was later conceded by all concerned to have gone the wrong side of the right-hand upright.

Whatever the case, the try-fest apparently promised by an average of 67 points in the previous four meetings between these sides never materialised. It was simply average.

Harlequins 12 Saracens 10

Half-time: 12-7 Attendance: 8,170

Harlequins: G Duffy; G Harder (A Dunne, 31-38), W Greenwood (R Jewell, 31-36), M Deane, S Keogh; P Burke (Dunne, 50), S Bemand; C Jones (M Worsley, 58), T Fuga, J Leonard (J Dawson, 58), K Rudzki, J Evans (R Winters, 25), P Sanderson, T Diprose, A Vos (capt; A Tiatia, 24-28, 63).

Saracens: R Kydd; R Haughton, B Johnston (P Bailey, 40), K Sorrell, D O'Mahony; T Castaignède, K Bracken (M Williams, 56); E Bergamaschi, R Russell, B Broster (J Marsters, 44), S Raiwalui (capt), C Yandell, B Skirving, T Randell, R Hill.

Referee: R Maybank (London).