Malone out gun Belfast Harlequins 2

Report compiled by George Millar

Thrilling match played on the prunty pitch at Gibson Park with ten tries scored.

Both teams were augmented by 1st xv and squad players that contributed to the quality of the rugby played. It was a case of the talented Quins backline playing against the strong carrying Malone forwards.

The first Malone attack was finished off by prop Ben Halliday touching down with centre Bruce Duff converting to give his side a 7 - 0 lead. It was a case of Quins going straight down the pitch with hooker Steven Weir claiming the try for out half Adam White to level the scores.

With the latest addition to the Ulster Academy in Zimbabwean 7 Stuart Dodington making his debut the action was fast and furious for a Belfast derby.
Another excellent break and carry by Halliday led to winger Jack McMurtry increasing the Malone lead to 12 - 7. Quins were immediately on the attack with Malone scrum half Callum Jemphrey putting in an excellent clearance kick to ease the pressure on his team. Quins reduced the deficit with a Adam White penalty.

Malone increased their lead after good work by the forwards. Quick ball along the backline allowed the loitering Malone number 8 Richard Millar to race in and score an unconverted try. We didn't have to wait long for a Quins response with the hard running centre Christian Bennison finishing off an excellent passage of play to touch down and level the scores at 15 - 15.

The scoring did not stop with Malone adding two further tries through Richard Millar and Bruce Duff to increase their lead to 25 - 15. Quins then lost full back Jordan McIIwrath to injury. This injury necessitated some positional changes with replacement Matt McKelvey joining the action. There was no further scoring to end an absorbing first half.

Both teams continued to play hard attacking rugby with referee Vincent Hughes keeping control of a feisty physical encounter.

The opening third quarter belonged to Quins with the Malone team having to repel several five metre lineouts conceded through indiscipline. The Malone forwards had to dig deep after the experienced second row Lee Barlow was yellow carded for a high tackle with their second row Peter Ireland having a particularly impressive game in his defensive work. Eventually the Quins pressure told with back row forward Jonathan Siri scoring Quins third try converted by Adam White to narrow the Malone lead to 25 - 22.

With the return of Lee Barlow Malone increased the intensity of their play after Quins were reduced to 14 players with centre Ian Anderson forced from the pitch after picking up an injury. Both Anderson and Bennison had posed all sorts of problems for the Malone defence with their hard runnng.

In the final quarter Quins dug deep with Millar scoring his second try out wide to increase his teams lead to 32 - 22 on the back of Duff's conversion. The final ten minutes were indeed entertaining as Malone pressed for further scores with good refereeing keeping the game under control. After Quins repelled a Malone effort the Gibson Park side gave their number 8 Millar the platform to power over and score his third try. Quins did kick to the corner only for Malone to clear their lines. They did score their seventh try through centre Duff to leave the final score 42 - 22 in favour of the home side.

A pulsating game from start to finish with both teams to be congratulated on their endeavours. Referee Vincent Hughes may have awarded 28 penalties but as he summed up. The standard of rugby was away above what you expect in the second xv league.

Watching Malone coach Paddy Armstrong will have been impressed by his squad and the depth in strength he has developed this season.

We have to thank the work of Davy Heron and Sam McBurney at Malone and David Beattie at Quins who are always faced with the difficult task of assembling 2nd xv teams for these fixtures. Well done guys. Sadly it was disappointing there were not more spectators present to watch a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining match played by two talented teams.