Down and out in West London, Harlequins saved one of their best performances of the season for last, but somehow you knew it was never going to be enough. It is not that they didn't deserve to beat Sale. They were, on balance, the better side for two-thirds of a tense if disjointed match. But, over the course of the season, they never achieved the consistency needed to stay in the Premiership. They now face the prospect of life among the semi-professionals in the league below having invested so much off the field - the £9million stand under construction for example - at the expense of the product on the pitch.
The Londoners' coach and chief executive was philosophical and defended his position. 'No, I don't feel under threat,' Mark Evans said. 'Of course I have total responsibility for what's happened because I'm in charge, but I don't feel under threat. The players are very quiet. We're in a state of disbelief. It's a tough day, but we we won't go under.'
Quins have looked ordinary, terrible and occasionally competent. Yesterday they played with more passion than most of their supporters could remember but, shorn of several quality players at the start of the season, they lacked depth and daring when it mattered most.
Here, the awful task of rescuing their season - not to mention the revenue of £3million that will be their shortfall next winter - fell to the former Ireland international Jeremy Staunton. His kicking has kept Quins in the hunt many times, but not yesterday. With a minute of scheduled time left, he lined up a penalty from a little inside the halfway line and came so close to delivering. 'That was the most expensive kick in British rugby,' said Evans. 'They don't come any bigger than that at club level. Jeremy struck it really well, it just drifted wide of the left post. He's in bits but we'll pull him back together. These things are decided on such small margins. There is such little difference between sixth and twelfth.'
Quins had led for more than an hour - but then Mark Cueto broke through with a try that knocked the stuffing out of them.
Eleven years ago, in the last of the amateur days, they beat Gloucester away in the final game of the season to stay up. But there would be no escape in the tough, professional environment that is modern rugby. They now must contemplate at least a year in the wilderness, the first time this 139-year-old club have been out of the top flight.
They could hardly have wished for a more encouraging start. For 20 minutes they enjoyed most of the ball and much of the territory, as Sale struggled at the line-out.
Warmed by the sun that appeared just before kick-off, the capacity crowd of more than 8,000 were in good voice as Quins threw the ball left and right, stretching Sale's resources. 'Come on Quins' might rank with 'Give it up for Surrey' in the cheer-leading stakes, but Andre Vos's men responded with heart. All season they have threatened to put together a stretch of form without ever dominating. Yesterday, there were more than a few flickers of their potential.
From one of three line-outs that Sale failed to win, Staunton darted over after barely five minutes, taking a knock in the process. When he recovered, he converted from a decent angle, and Quins were decidedly in charge. They continued to beat away at what was often an open door and James Hayter emerged from a rolling maul for their second try, although Staunton made a mess of the kick.
Sale finally awoke in the 24th minute, Hanley getting on the end of Jason Robinson's long lob to score wide out. Charlie Hodgson converted, then added an easy penalty to put Sale within two points. But then Staunton failed with an even more straightforward effort.
The try of the half came a good four minutes into time added on. Simon Keogh kicked wide, George Harder collected and busted the line, and Gavin Duffy roared through the gap to touch down. Staunton's conversion gave Harlequins a 19-10 lead at the break and all was looking well for the home team.
Could they sustain the effort when it mattered? For long passages of the second half they again looked convincing. Hodgson and Staunton exchanged penalties inside the first 10 minutes, before the England fly-half drew Sale to within a score at 22-16. This was the time for Quins to concentrate - and that was palpably what they failed to with time running down.
Cueto broke free on the halfway line then, changing his angles, eluded Duffy's desperate grasp to score under the posts. Hodgson dared not miss from in front and his quickly taken kick broke 8,000 hearts.
There ought to have been a strategy for field position and a drop-goal attempt, but Harlequins, after holding their nerve for so long, faltered.
They pressed the Sale line repeatedly but couldn't get a stable platform. Then that penalty breathed hope into the fixture again - and Staunton stepped up for the kick of his career. Sadly for him and Quins, he pushed his 40-metre effort just wide
And so it's off to Otley, Sedgley Park, Penzance and the rest for the grand old aristocrats of the English game. Will they ever recover from the shock of that?
HARLEQUINS Duffy (Williams 73); Harder, Greenwood, Deane, Keogh (James 80); Staunton, So'oialo; Worsley (Jones 50), Hayter, Dawson, Winters, Miall (Evans 50), Easter (Sherriff 76), Vos (capt), Diprose.
Tries: Staunton, Hayter, Duffy Cons: Staunton 2 Pen: Staunton
SALE Cueto; Ripol, Robinson (capt), Todd, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Sheridan, Bruno (Titterrell 45), Stewart (Turner 50), Lobbe (Jones 45), Schofield, White, Carter, Chabal (Lund 62).
Tries: Hanley, Cueto Cons: Hodgson 2 Pens: Hodgson 3
Referee: D Pearson.
Attendance: 8,500
