Blackrock gain vital away win in Belfast

Belfast Harlequins 7 Blackrock 19

Blackrock won for the second consecutive game, and continued their good away form in Ulster, with a 19-7 win over Belfast Harlequins that sees them sixth in the Division One table.

On their last visit to the province, Stephen McIvor’s men triumphed 13-8 over reigning champions Ballymena, and a resurgent Belfast, who had won their previous four games, proved no match.

Lock David Gannon was driven over by his forwards on 24 minutes for his fourth try of the season, between two penalties to hand the visitors an 11-7 half time lead.

Harlequins’ full back Willem Slabbert had managed to notch incredibly his eighth try in four games in first half injury time to give Harlequins some hope of even a bonus point.

But Blackrock pulled away, with the wind in their faces, through sterling defence and a second try from flanker David Dillon.

Former Leinster out-half Emmet Farrell pushed a likely bonus point away from Harlequins with a 58th minute drop goal from all of 28 metres.

Scorers: Harlequins: Try: Willem Slabbert; Con: Ajay Derwin

Blackrock: Tries: Dave Gannon, David Dillon; Pen: Conor Kilroy 2; Drop goal: Emmet Farrell