As the post-game playlist started in the Quins changing room. Journey’s biggest hit echoed around the room. Given the way the game started, “Don’t Stop Believin’” was absolutely spot on.

Reigate’s league position perhaps doesn’t do them justice. They have fared pretty well in games against the league’s top 3 and our win at The Reeves in November was ground out. Crucial was our defence against Reigate’s bigger, heavier pack.

Perhaps there was a sign of what was to come therefore that depleted numbers meant we had three backs in the forwards. The usual last minute changes to the squad left Quins with 20 players but a couple out of position. Traffic chaos thanks to the M25 being closed meant that players were arriving late.

But we knew what we needed to do. Front up in defence and we should still win – especially as we had a back line made up almost entirely of our new Fijian contingent. A warm spring day and Gate’s new dry pitch were made for running rugby.

To add an extra layer of intrigue, the ref was very clear pre-game that he wouldn’t tolerate anything that looked at all like a high tackle. If you’re upright, it’s a penalty.

And so we have the opening 20 minutes. Those big runners made frequent dents in the Quins line as we fell off tackles. In the scrum we were at best holding on. Reigate had two tries from 5m rolling mauls.

What was clear though was that Reigate weren’t coping well with our backs. When we could get the ball to them, the Fijians made metres every time.

By half time, it was 19-21 which included a missed penalty from Gate. Front up in defence and we should still win.

But fronting up needs to be controlled. Time and again we’d hold Gate back only for somebody to be too upright in the tackle. With a decent boot on him, Gate’s 10 could keep moving his team upfield from each penalty.

To be fair to the ref, he was very clear with each player about what he wanted to see. That we didn’t adapt is on us so we have nobody else to blame but ourselves when T took a team yellow.

During the sin bin period, we were also forced to replace Tom – probably our heaviest player and therefore not somebody we could afford to lose. It did allow us to bring on Bobby for his debut in the quarters. Welcome to the club, mate.

Gradually however, we adapted, tackled lower and stopped Gate’s big runners. And by cutting off Plan A, we forced them to try something different. Which lead to their mistakes. From the turnovers, we’d spin the ball wide and a Fijian would make a break.

We may have been living on scraps somewhat but we were stretching out a lead.19-21 became 24-28 and the last play of the game saw JP running an awesome support line to dot down under the sticks.

A bonus point away win and a potentially tricky banana skin avoided.

Our last game is the last home match of the league season as we welcome Cranleigh on 22nd March. Last season the aggregate points difference over three games was just 6 so it looks set to be a cracker.

That gives us two weeks to learn the Fijian for “tackle lower please, mate”.

MoM: Ratu Rasovasova
DoD: "Fijian" Freddie Nehls