Quins duo fit for Shield final
May 8, 2001

Harlequins enjoyed a double dose of good news today, beating Cornwall 74-5 and then revealing that Irish internationals hooker Keith Wood and fly-half Paul Burke will be fit for the European Shield final showdown against Narbonne.

Harlequins, faced with a blank four weeks before facing the French club in the European Shield final at Reading's Madejski Stadium on 20 May, arranged the ``warm up'' match against Cornwall to keep them on the boil.

They ran in 12 tries at Launceston and then captain David Wilson declared that Wood and Burke would be fit for the Shield final - the winner automatically qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup tournament.

``It was a good run-out for us and important we had a game - now we can concentrate on fine-tuning before the European Shield final,'' said Wilson, a flanker in Australia's 1999 World Cup-winning side.

``It is good that we didn't pick up any injuries and great to know that Woodie and Paul should be fit for the final - along with England international centre Nick Greenstock.

``We were very disappointed to lose the Tetley Bitter Cup final and it is great to have another chance to pick up some silverware - especially as there is the added bonus of Heineken Cup qualification hanging in this game.

``We have been studying Narbonne and know that they are strong at both scrum and line-out.

``They also have the typical French flair that means they will be a threat in any situation.''

Five of the 12 tries against Cornwall came from the forwards _ Jason Leonard, Steve White-Cooper, Pat Sanderson and replacements Bruce Starr and Rory Jenkins.

Behind the scrum there were two for right wing Rob Jewell plus others from fellow wing Darren O'Leary, centres Chris Bell and Ed Jennings and one each for half-backs Matthew Powell and Ben Gollings - Gollings adding seven conversions for 19 points in the match.

Cornwall had their one moment of glory after 68 minutes when Redruth wing Steve Larkins ran 30 metres to score.

Meanwhile Quins are prepared to make a concrete offer to lure England and Lions wing Dan Luger back to the Stoop after two years at Saracens.

Contract negotiations are on going at Welford Road but Saracens have amditted that Luger's rising market value, combined with the amount of time he has spent injured during his two years there, are factors. Wasps are also believe to be interested.

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