Malone defeat the students at Gibson Park

Malone completed their SONI Ulster league programme by winning four games from four to top Div 2 and secure promotion to Division 1 next season. The Gibson Park side had failed to defeat their opponents in a competitive match since 2011. With the Ulster A side playing London Scottish in a crucial British & Irish Cup at the Kingspan stadium on Friday night Queens were strengthened by the presence of Zac McCall, Captain Alex Thompson, Nick Timoney and Ali Burke in the forwards with Johnny Stewart, Josh Jordan and Rob Lyttle in the backs under the watchful eye of Ulster A coach Willie Anderson. Malone were able to include Ulster A fullback Jack Owens and the talented Callum Smith at out half with Head coach Paddy Armstrong resting Mark McCrea, Josh Pentland, Phil Lucas, Cory Tipping, Mark O'Connor, James McAllister and Lee Barlow.

Despite a positive opening first quarter from Malone with out half Callum Smith pushing two long range penalties wide it was the student side who dominated the second quarter scoring two tries. Strong carrying from Alex Thompson, Nick Timoney, Ali Burke, Zac McCall and Zac Jordan put Malone on the back foot. Queens half backs Johnny Stewart and Ali Wright used their talented back line to spread the ball wide for winger Mark Gordon to touch down in the right hand corner. Within five minutes Queens had added a second try through centre Conor McKee in the left hand corner to increase their lead to 10 - 0 at HT.

Malone made two changes at the beginning of the second half with Ben Halliday and Peter Ireland coming on in the forwards. The East Belfast side had performed strongly particularly in defence with Nathan Brown and Michael Cartmill in the centre working hard to stem the student attacks.

It needed a passage of play started by full back Jack Owens with a kick and catch in behind the students defence. The ball was quickly moved by scrum half Shane Kelly with support from his team mates. Back row forward Dave Cave took the ball and wrong footed the Queens cover to evade several tackles to sprint in from twenty five metres for an excellent try with Callum Smith adding the points to reduce the Queens lead to three points.

Queens came back with the Malone defence having to work hard to thwart the students attacks. Through strong carrying from Nick Timoney Queens won a long range penalty that was pushed wide.

Malone continued to use their bench with Connor Spence and Kieran Joyce entering the fray with both teams looking dangerous on the break. Through Queens second row Alex Thompson, Malone were struggling to win their own lineout. Ben Halliday, Dave Cave and Phil Eadie kept up the Malone pressure in the front row with Jack Barry Glendinning joining the action.

Queens back row Nick Timoney always posed a threat with ball in hand along with hooker Zac McCall. On occasions the Malone threequarters of Jack Owens, Andy Bryan's and Davy Irvine had to be secure under the high ball in defence.

There was a confidence and belief amongst the Malone players as the game progressed with a couple of breaks by Bryan's in particular showing the new found confidence in his running game.

When Malone won a kickable penalty 15 metres out with five minutes remaining the team opted for the scrum. They secured ball with scrum half Connor Spence putting out half Callum Smith into space. He drew the Queens cover for full back Jack Owens to touch down in the right hand corner for Malone to lead 12 - 10.

Both teams were tiring with the match entering the final anxious minutes. Queens threw everything at Malone with Zac McCall making another determined charge for the Malone line only to be held up. In the resulting play Queens knocked on. Malone centre Nathan Brown put in a long clearance kick to ease the pressure before the referee Lee Evans blew his whistle.

Ulster three quarter Rob Lyttle was forced to leave the pitch after twenty minutes with an injury. Thankfully he has been given the all clear after being taken to hospital.

This game was a great advert for Ulster club rugby with two committed teams playing for 80 minutes. Queens were the favourites to win this match with their strong Ulster contingent included in their starting line up. Malone have shown the progress they have made under coaches Paddy Armstrong, Mark McCrea and Mark Taylor to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.

What was particularly pleasing for the Malone coaches was despite resting several key players the squad is developing strength in depth.

On the Queens side Alex Thompson, Nick Timoney and Zac McCall stood out with Jack Owens and Callum Smith impressing on the Malone side. The watching Willie Anderson will have been impressed by several of the younger players on the Malone side most notably the centre pairing of Nathan Brown and Michael Cartmill.

The man of the match has to be given to Malone back row/Hooker Dave Cave. The former Sullivan Upper player in his third season at Malone was a constant thorn in the Queens side with his tackling and ball carrying. His superb try was just reward for his work rate over 80 minutes.

Next up for Malone is a trip to Cork on Sat to play Sunday's Well at Irish Independent Park in the UBL. Can the Gibson Park side maintain their good form and challenge for promotion this season.