Quins weather early Ballymena storm to secure a valuable AIL 1B win in this cracking derby match.
Quins rushed to fourth spot in the league with a deserved victory over leaders and Ulster rivals Ballymena at Deramore Park.
The first half was played in difficult weather conditions with Ballymena firing everything but the Kitchen sink at Quins in the first 20 minutes. Quins weathered that storm with a rock solid defence and then composed themselves to take a dominant hold on the game. It was Ian Porter who scored the points for Quins with 3 well taken penalties in the second half.
Ballymena had the first chance to open the scoring after hooker John Burns won a penalty when he wasn’t released in the tackle but winger John Semple badly sliced his attempt at goal on 10 minutes.
The conditions grew worse during the first half and neither team were able to get their exciting backlines into the game and it became a war of attrition up front. The first half ended scoreless.
Four minutes into the second half Porter eventually broke the dead lock with a long range wind assisted penalty after Ballymena were guilty of a high tackle in midfield.
Just 5 minutes later Porter had another penalty opportunity after Ballymena were caught offside but his kick was wide.
Porter doubled the Quins lead with a second penalty on 62 minutes. There was another high tackle in midfield, just inside the Ballymena half and Porter struck the ball sweetly.
It looked like Michael Ferguson had barged his way over the Ballymena line on 66 minutes, but he was adjudged to have knocked it on before the ball was grounded.
The visitors conceded another penalty in front of their own posts with just 7 minutes remaining. A confident Porter slotted over his third successful kick.
Porter just missed with another penalty from half way in the final minute.
Starman: Ian Porter for Quins
Belfast Harlequins:
R Scholes, M Allen, M Kettyle, W Stewart, O McMuarry, S Olding, I Porter R Logan, N Annett, M McGrath, G Rourke, S Anett, A Heatlie, L Babe, N McComb
Replacements:
P Greenaway, M Ferguson, P Rea, A Scott, D Creighton
Ballymena:
R Andrew, R McBurney, A Fraizer, R Aingworth, J Semple M Irwin, B McIlroy
C Carey, J Burns, S Shawe, D O’Kane, J Christie, R Hackney, P Pritchard, S Mullholland,
Replacements:
A Warrick J Carson A Kerr, J Andrew D O’Hara
YOUTH (U13,U15 &U17) TRAINING RECOMMENCES
YOUTH (U13,U15 &U17) TRAINING RECOMMENCES ON TUESDAY 10TH JANUARY
