Barnes, who were strong in the scrum, came back to score two tries themselves and led 15-10 at the break, a lead they extended at the start of the second half.

The Green Machine were not finished though and with Walters converting two Matt Hema tries, we were right back in it.

However, Barnes scored a fourth try with five minutes to go and although we were parked on the hosts line in the dying minutes the try to level the match and perhaps even win it, would not come.

Meanwhile, Chris Griffiths was one very happy man after seeing his Ladies side run in six tries and go top of the NC South East South Two table with a crushing 45-0 win at Les Ozouets on Saturday morning.

‘I said to the girls afterwards that, for once, the scoreline reflected the performance,’ said the coach afterwards.

‘I’m very pleased. It was a good team effort.’

Not that it was easy.

Harlequins, who lost a player in the second half with a worrying neck injury which required an ambulance, pressed hard in the early stages with the wind at their backs.

‘Until our first try it was backs to the wall for us a little bit,’ conceded Griffiths.

‘But we knew we had the fitness and the wind with us in the second half.’

Although it was Carly Parrott who took the plaudits for her four tries, the coach was particularly pleased with the way his new scrum half, Justeen Baker, shaped up.

‘I said to her at half time ‘’you looked you’ve played there all your life’’.

‘It was an outstanding performance from her, which is great because it seems Hannah {Lord] will miss another couple of games with her knee.

Jemma Crouse, Vicky Rang and Chelsie Blondel also scored tries, while Crouse converted five of the scores.