Win sees Constitution climb to fourth

Cork Constitution 25 Belfast Harlequins 3

Cork Constitution are up to fourth position in Division One courtesy of this afternoon’s 25-3 defeat of Belfast Harlequins at Temple Hill today.

Out-half Niall O’Connor’s 22nd-minute penalty proved to be ‘Quins only score as they lost for the sixth consecutive time on the road in the AIB League.

Lock John Maloney (29 minutes) and centre Dermot O’Kane (37) crossed for two brilliantly worked tries to help Con lead 15-3 at half-time.

Winger Richie Lane kicked five first-half points, added a second penalty and then converted an injury-time try for Denis Leamy’s younger brother Ed to top off the win.

‘Quins’ poor start to the league continued as they lost for the third time in as many weeks, and the 2004/05 Division One finalists seem to be in dire straits.

Not even the sight of coach Andy Ward, who substituted himself on for the final quarter, could inspire them. The northerners’ hunt for their tenth win 16 league visits to Munster never got going.

A third-minute penalty from Lane got Con off the mark and Maloney finished off a powerful move from the home side’s pack coming up to the half-hour mark.

That came after O’Connor’s penalty, and ‘Quins woe deepened just before half-time when O’Kane darted through a midfield gap, linking well with Conor Quaid, before dotting down.

Sin-binnings for front rowers Robert Quinn (Con) and Brendan Lynch (‘Quins), who were seen scuffling with each other off the ball, broke up the pattern of the game and it was not until the 58th-minute that Lane – from a 30-metre penalty – added to Con’s total.

Two minutes into injury-time, openside flanker Leamy was rewarded for getting through an amount of hard work when he muscled over to the left of the posts for Lane to convert.

Bottom side ‘Quins have a chance to get their season back on track with the visit of Dolphin to Deramore Park in two weeks’ time.

Scorers:

Cork Con: Tries: John Maloney, Dermot O’Kane, Ed Leamy; Cons: Richie Lane 2; Pens: Lane 2

Belfast Harlequins: Pen: Niall O’Connor.