Late try moves Harlequins closer to title

By stunning Ballymena with a late winning try, Belfast Harlequins inched ever closer to being crowned Division 1B champions and winning promotion to Division 1A.

Ulster prop Adam Macklin touched down in deepest injury-time at Eaton Park to draw ‘Quins level in a fiercely-contested Ulster derby.

The final conversion from scrum half Ian Porter was the difference between the sides at 19-17, with Harlequins still four points clear at the top of the table with two rounds remaining.

But the clubs from second down to sixth could all still mathematically catch Adam Larkin’s men.

The winners will be the divisional champions and gain automatic promotion, and the second-placed side will enter a promotion/relegation play-off.

The Braidmen struck for the opening try after 13 minutes of today’s derby clash with flanker and captain Paul Pritchard getting over, and the Ulster-capped Luke Marshall converting.

Marshall’s extras proved to be the difference between the sides at the break as Willie Stewart’s 21st-minute effort for ‘Quins went unconverted.

It was nip-and-tuck in the first half and that pattern continued after the break. Ballymena improved their lead to 14-5 with a converted try from winger Caolan Fitzpatrick.

‘Quins responded with a 57th minute penalty try which Porter converted, before a surge from the home forwards earned a penalty from Marshall and a 17-12 gap.

But the visitors’ persistence paid off in the end with Porter adding the extras to Macklin’s score to deny Ballymena at the death, sending them down to sixth in the standings.

A try by Chris Cochrane twelve minutes from the end clinched a hard-earned 25-16 win to keep Dungannon in the race for the title at Kilballyowen Park.

Michael Lawton converted the try and then left Bruff with nothing to show for their commendable efforts when he landed a penalty four minutes from the finish.

Dungannon made the best possible start when they hit the front after only two minutes. Their outstanding number 8 John McMahon went over for a try which Jaryd Bennett converted.

Brian Cahill kept Bruff in touch with an 11th minute penalty, but he missed a chance to cut the arrears further when another penalty was off target.

Bruff wiped out the arrears when John Shine broke following a maul and his pass was taken on by Stephen Foster who crashed over. Cahill added the conversion to make it 10-7 for the home side.

But Bruff suffered a blow when their second row Brian Morrissey was shown a yellow card and while he was in the sin-bin, Dungannon capitalised and McMahon got in for his second try which Michael Lawton was unable to convert.

He was on target with a 50th minute penalty before a brace of Cahill penalties nudged Bruff 16-15 in front.

Nonetheless, Cochrane's try and Lawton's penalty and conversion sent Dungannon on the long trip home in a happy frame of mind.

UL Bohemians kept up their challenge for divisional honours and promotion without playing particularly well against Galwegians at Annacotty.

But the introduction of Ireland Under-20 international JJ Hanrahan for the second half made all the difference as he scored 13 points in that period.

Galwegians had the benefit of the early lead when Tadhg Leader landed a penalty after UL were penalised for going offside. But it was all-square after 30 minutes when Ed Torrie successfully landed a kick at goal.

The decisive score in the first half came seven minutes before the interval when Matt Dever grabbed a Galwegians try which Leader superbly converted from the touchline.

UL Bohemians boss Colm Tucker made the most important move of the afternoon, off the pitch, when he decided to bring on Hanrahan for the second half.

Within two minutes the ex-Rockwell College star scored a superb individual try which he converted and he then landed two penalties to round off a very successful half for himself and secure a 16-10 victory for his club.

Meanwhile, UCC fell to their 14th defeat of the campaign when going down to Buccaneers at Dubarry Park.

Buccs moved up to fourth place on the back of a six-try 43-22 triumph over the Cork students, with promotion still a possibility for the Pirates.

Their young out-half Jack Carty had a day to remember, scoring a hat-trick of tries and kicking three conversions and a penalty for a 26-point personal haul.

At Belfield, UCD claimed a battling 25-12 win over Ballynahinch to climb above Bruff into eighth position in their relegation scrap.

‘Hinch, who are clinging onto their promotion dreams, were outscored by four tries to two as Brian Hall, Peter du Toit, Sam Coghlan Murray and David Doyle crossed for the home side.