Conditions were poor, reminiscent of Bristol's fine win over Stade Francais.  Quins should have proved sterner opposition than the notoriously poor French travellers.  However, their form coming into the match was very poor.  For Bristol supporters this promotes the contradictory emotions of optimism that such a run continues and fear that such a run won't.  Bristol started positively and sought to bring the powerful running of Lee Robinson into the game as he came in off the wing to sprint into the midfield.  Sadly the handling wasn't up to the ambition and the obvious forward pass was easily spotted by the officials.  Bristol then forced a turnover and then a penalty at the scrum.  It was eminently kickable, though not the easiest but David Hill was well left of the posts with his typically low effort.

Quins were stung into action and a Dean Richards schooled pack took on a John Brain coached pack and put in a fine example of the catch and drive; tacking the ball on a good 20 or so metres and sucking in the defence.  AS the move was contained Jarvis sent out a raking kick that Luke Arscott, recovered from last weekends knocks, handled comfortably.  Bristol's forwards then stole Quins lineout ball and Hill showed good skills to kick for touch inside the hosts 22.  Indeed both sides appeared to take the recent lessons of the recent World Cup and strove to ‘outwit' the defence by using the kicking game.  The wisdom of this approach was shown as Shuan Perry, emulating his opposite number Care, launched a neat up-and-under.  Brown scrabbled at the ball as Robinson looked poised to take advantage of the error but Quins were able to escape as they managed to force the ball over the touch line.

From the lineout Bristol went for a catch and drive of their own but wer well held up by the defence.  However the formidable presence of Alfie To'oala picked the ball up from the back of the ruck and muscled through one unfortunate attempted tackle to score the opening try.  Hill missed the conversion but it was a precious 0 - 5 lead with the game just entering the second quarter.  Just minutes later Bristol raided the points locker again.  Quins took the restart well but what might charitably be called an optimistic long pass out was easily read by the alert David Lemi.  He seized the ball and showed a muddy pair of heels to the despairing Strettle.  He was over for what Quins must have felt a devastating try.  Hill compounded the pain by converting well and handing Bristol a 0 - 12 lead.  Quins had to strike back and did so quickly when Care struck a fine drop-goal effort in off the post to narrow the gap to 3 - 12.  Both sides struggled to impose themselves form this point on but it was Quins who were making the errors that kept them under pressure.  This was typified by a good grubber kick from Care that Quins reclaimed and attempted to maul onwards, only to see the ball pop back on the Bristol side and then hoofed way back down field by Hill.  The half ended with no further score but plenty of hard work from both teams:  Bristol definitely the happier.

They remained happy at the start of the second half when Jarvis put his kick out on the full.  It must have been tempting to ask him to take the kick again to further crush his confidence, but more conventional counsel prevailed.  Quins were immediately under pressure and, despite getting hold of the ball looked flustered and  kicked aimlessly into the arms of Matt Salter who took the ball back at pace before going to ground.  Hill attempted to kick through from the ruck but his effort was stymied, only to fall to Luke Arscott who managed to kick ahead and sprint clear to flop onto the ball as it crossed the try line.  Hill was off target with the conversion attempt but it was 3 - 17 with just three minutes of the second half played.  Bristol now had the chance for a bonus point and it was perhaps the realisation of this that finally spurred Quins to greater efforts, if largely in defence.

Initially the Quins response was to launch a series of attacks but the Bristol defence was on its mettle and the flurry was contained.  Bristol then patiently worked their way back into the Quins half with the pack dominant.  They saw the opportunity and strove to breakthrough down in the corner.  The pressure was intense and it was no surprise when someone, in the form of former Bristol favourite Ollie Kohn, saw yellow as Quins tried desperately to halt the onslaught.  Typically Bristol failed to make the extra man count, but it was only a fine tackle from Monye on Perry that kept Bristol out.  Still Bristol sought a way through the Quins defence and Rob Higgitt made a fine break as he took the ball at pace and wrong footed the defence.  Sadly he was unable to get the ball out of the tackle with the support just too slow or wrongly positioned and the attack became bogged down.  Larscott made what I assume was a drop-goal attempt that was well below the standard of Care's earlier effort.

Both sides looked anxious as the game went well in to the final quarter with both teams making errors and giving away penalties.  Quins took some advantage, kicking for touch and put their visitors under pressure.  Several mauls collapsed and it was, again, no surprise to see the referee reach for the yellow card and replacement Darren Crompton paid the penalty for his team's repeated offences.  An early chance for a hot pie though and his second yellow of the tournament.  Bristol remained resolute in his absence preventing Quins from getting any real points scoring chances.  They even managed to break back up field for yet another, though much delayed, go for the bonus point try.  Quins were having none of it and the one man advantage ensured that they were able to restrain Bristol's efforts as the game came to its conclusion.  Monye, probably the best Quins player, had one last effort right at the end as he hacked the ball on only to knock-on with the line at his mercy.

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