Quins impressed with Palace pitch (From Your Local Guardian)

Quins impressed with Palace pitch

6:04pm Friday 28th January 2011 in Sport By Stuart Amos

Quins winger Sam Smith and scrum-half Karl Dickson got their first glimpse of the playing surface at the Emirates Palace - and they liked what they saw.

Harlequins face London Wasps in the manicured gardens of the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as they look to maintain hopes of lifting the LV= Cup this season.

Director of rugby Conor O'Shea's men got a taste of the purpose-built 5,000 seater stadium on Friday which left Smith, who has five tries in four appearances this season, describing the surface as a 'bowling green'.

It is good news for Harlequins fans as the warm and dry conditions should suit the side's brand of running rugby as they bid to maintain this season's unbeaten record over their London rivals and extend their seven-match winning streak.