Belfast Harlequins arrived at a purpose built 1.5M Euro rugby complex at
La Rozas ,Madrid for a round robin tournament involving three local teams
and Agen from the hotbed of French rugby. The mood was set at the prematch
civic reception where tour president Grant Robinson speaking fluently in
three languages said only " Harlequins were here to win "
The first three games against the Spanish opponents were won comfortably as
the team settled down in the blazing sun .The victory margins would have
been greater if Ricky McIlmoyle had brought his kicking boots and not
dropped the ball over the line on more than one occassion .The final game
played in a temperature of 27C was against unbeaten French veterans
champions Agen . The team fronted up and stepped up to the plate with big
forwards Roger Frew ,Johnny Patterson and Spanish signing ex intenational
Jose Luis Rodriquez making good ball carrying yardage .The game was at
nil all when Quins scored a try after some petulant time spent in the French
22 with the clock running down .However the ref decided to go to the TMO
Jean Pierre who declared it invalid . The game ended nil all and the
undefeated Quins with a 23 points difference advantage watched on nervously
as Agen scraped a narrow victory in their final game against hosts
Industriales . A jubilant Harlequins captain Jonathan Park accepted the
trophy from the president of the Spanish rugby union .Harlequins back Peter
Sandford was voted player of the Tournament .
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Back row :Left to Right Ricky McIlmoyle,Paddy Mallon,Aaron Hynds,Simon
Willis,Jonnathan Park,Johnny Patterson,Len Young,Michael Millar,Pete
Sandford,Roger Frew ,Stephen Bourke
Front row :L to R :Jose Luis Rodriquez,Craig Henderson,Michael McCulloch
(coach )Wayne Storey.Marty Malseed
Any queries to Martin Malseed 07929002238
