Instonians 22 v 35 Queens

Two season’s ago Queen’s promotion hopes were ended as Inst completed a smash a grab raid at Shaw’s Bridge. This season a bonus point win for the students has edged them closer to securing a place in Division Two as they outscored their Belfast neighbours by four tries to three.

With both sides not having played for while any doubts of ring rust were dispelled in the opening two minutes as captain Mark Robinson got the game’s opening try.

Queen’s ran the ball from deep, Michael Pyper surged through the middle of the home defence before throwing a looping pass inside for Robinson to power over from close range and Ian Porter added the conversion.

Inst got back on level terms seven minutes later with a try from winger Richard Fegan, he broke down the left but seemed to knock the ball on the Queen’s defence stopped but the referee awarded a try which Rory McCann converted.

Porter restored Queen’s lead with a penalty before Inst had full back Josh Devitt yellow carded for a high tackle.

Porter added another penalty on 35 minutes but McCann reduced the students lead to 13-10 at the break with a penalty two minutes before the interval.

Porter was on target with his third penalty a minute after the restart and Robinson added his second try on 50 minutes.

Devitt showed his pace to score a try for Inst but Queen’s with out half James McKinney directing operations scored two more tries in the last quarter.

Jonny Shiels finished of a sweeping move in the corner before European Cup winner Jonny Bell raced onto a smart grubber kick by McKinney to get the vital fourth try.

Inst had the last word with Seamus Mallon going over in the final move of the game.

Report: Ciaran Donaghy