Harlequins 19 - 18 Stade Francais
Harlequins stole Stade Francais's place in the Heineken Cup next season after a last minute try and conversion which saw Quins win the game by a slender 19-18 and win the Amlin Challenge Cup. This was the third time they have won the cup which capped off an up and down season in the Aviva Premiership.
After Nick Easters dismissal in their shock semi final victory over Munster, he has been spared further punishment for his discretion and retains his place in the side. Nick Evans also holds his place in the team after shaking off a knock however, Tomas Vallejos hasn't been so lucky after he broke his thumb in the semi. Peter Browne replaces him on the bench.
In similar circumstances, France prop Rodrigo Roncero has also been spared a ban as he takes his place in the Stade Francais front row for the clash. Antoine Burban has recovered from a cut and plays at open side flank but Scotland international Hugo Southwell and France hooker Dimitri Szarzewski are ruled out through injury.
1st Half
Both teams started brightly in their hope to gain an early foothold in the game and it was Quins who opened the scoring with Evans kicking in the 5th minute to give Quins an early lead. Sergio Parisse was deemed to be holding on in the tackle and Nick Evans kick from 40 metres was successful. Harlequins 3-0 Stade Francais. Harlequins continued their strong start with good phases of play and were creating the right inroads to Stade's try line but unforced errors held them back at the pinnacle moment.
Stade then ventured into Quins half and an infringement cost them dearly as Lionel Beauxis managed to level the scores in the 10th minute. Harlequins 3-3 Stade Francais. Five minutes later, Quins regained the lead from their second penalty by Evans. Harlequins 6-3 Stade Francais. Both sides attacking intent was lacking continuity and the free flowing passing play that they both showcased in their semi final fixtures. Stade full back Martin Rodriguez tried an ambitious drop goal attempt but it fell short and Quins were able to easily clear their lines.
Evans and Beauxis kicking was proving a key weapon for both sides as it was penning both sides into their corners. Harlequins broke through the Stade defensive line numerous times but once again costly errors in the final third were still restricting them to kicking points rather than running in tries. Quins then increased their lead again when Evans kicked over from the penalty in the 28th minute. Harlequins 9-3 Stade Francais. Stade then increased their attacking intensity and they were rewarded for their efforts as Beauxis brought the deficit to three points as the half time whistle blew.
2nd Half
The second half started the opposite compared to the first, as it was Stade who flew out of the blocks. Good strength from Mathieu Bastareaud saw him play in Sergio Parisse and break towards the Quins try line only for the referee deemed Bastareaud's pass to be forward which halted their attack. Quins were still making mistakes at the wrong moments as they would seem to progress up to the half way line only for the ball to be turned over. Their possession showed through as Beauxis managed to bring the scores level five minutes into the half. Harlequins 9-9 Stade Francais. England international Nick Easter, who is known for his consistency on the attack was proving to be a problem child for Quins in a five minute spell where he made less mistakes throughout the season, than in that five minute spell. Stade's pressure was showing massively as Quins couldn't break out of their own half and an impressive drop goal from Bastareaud put the French side in front in the game for the first time. Harlequins 9-12 Stade Francais.
Bastareaud was establishing himself as the main threat for Stade as his runs were opening up gaps in the Quins defence. The Super 14 sides sustained pressure then rewarded them again as they increased their lead in the 57th minute as Beauxis again kicked over. Harlequins 9-15 Stade Francais. The West Londoners were then given a path back into the game but a miss kick from fly half Evans meant the scores remained the same. However, when Quins were presented a second chance to reduce the score they took it. Harlequins 12-15 Stade Francais. The atmosphere in the stadium remained nervous as with just over 10 minutes to go, there was still only three points in it despite the sustained attacks on the Quins back line which held them in their half of the pitch. On 72 minutes, the French side looked to have sealed the game as a glorious drop goal kick by Stade full back Rodriguez increased their lead back to six points. Harlequins 12- 18 Stade Francais.
The Super 14 side then piled more misery on the West Londoners as they attempted an ambitious penalty to run the clock down, but it failed to clear the posts and this was a pivotal moment in the game. Quins, who had been driven into their half for most of the second half then started to go through the phases as they slowly made their way up the field and into Stade's 22. Then the moment arose, as England scrum half Danny Care found the gap and surged forward shrugging off one challenge to then grubber kick exquisitely into the corner for Gonzalo Camacho to chase.
Camacho managed to lay claim to ball and side step past one player, and to the sheer delight of the Quins fans, dived over in the 76th minute to bring the West Londoners to within one point of the French side with the conversion still to come. As Evans stepped up, you were able to hear a pin drop as the crowd were stunned into a deadly silence. Evans leathered it and the ball flew straight and true through the posts to put Quins in front by one point with two minutes to go. Harlequins 19-18 Stade Francais. Nerves reappeared on the faces of the Quins fans as every second dragged on as Stade themselves were starting to progress back into Quin territory. To the delight of the Quins support, Stade then dropped the ball which saw it booted into touch by the West Londoners to steal the Amlin Trophy from the clutches of Stade Francais.
Full Time
With the possession the French side had in the second half, Stade Francais should have created more opportunities to touch down as Quins managed to hold them out. All it took was one attack from Quins to lift the trophy as the kicking of Nick Evans always kept them within touching distance of Stade in the second half. Stade fed well off the many Quin mistakes as well as the turnovers they won in opposition territory.
Man of the Match
Nick Evans: Was an Instrumental figure in the Quins side as his good composure always kept them in the game as well as winning the game for them.
Harlequins
Tries: Camacho
Conversions: Evans
Penalties: Evans (4)
Stade Francais
Penalties: Beauxis (4)
Drop Goals: Bastareaud, Rodriguez
Thoughts
Harlequins will be relieved for their last gasp victory after their LDV Trophy defeat and mixed league campaign. O'Shea's young side definitely looks one for the future as they seem to have the "play by the sword, die by the sword attitude to games which sometimes proves to be successful. Furthermore, the fact that most of this Quins side is English means good performances from those players may reward them with England caps. For Stade Francais, to have been four minutes from a trophy to lose it right at the death is devastating. Especially as the Amlin Challenge Cup was their get out clause from what has been a disappointing season for the French. Finishing 11th in the league and no European competitions next season will hurt them hard, considering Stade look a pretty decent side as they proved in the second half.
