BELFAST Harlequins bounced back from their Senior Cup exit with a bonus point 27-8 victory over Ards at Deramore.
Adam Larkin’s side outscored the visitors by five tries to one, although Ards were masters of their own downfall on occasions gifting the home side a number of their scores.
Ards took the lead after two minutes with a penalty from winger Paul Cox as the home side infringed at the ruck.
Quins were awarded two penalties in kickable positions but on both occasions they went for touch but couldnt produce anything from the resulting line outs.
Quins got the first try of the game on 15 minutes when they turned the ball over in midfield and following a patient build-up scrum half Roger Kirkwood went over from close range. However Peter Foley couldn’t convert.
Quins got their second try on 23 minutes when they went the length of the pitch. Ards kicked a penalty into the 22 but dropped the lineout. From there Quins spread it wide and Matt Holmes broke out of defence. He drew the last two defenders and kicked, Foley fly hacked on and Holmes won the race to get the touchdown.
Ards got back into the game on 32 minutes when they were awarded a penalty and took a scrum. They moved the ball right and prop Andrew Foster crashed over from close range. Cox couldn’t add to the points as he dragged the conversion wide.
Quins got their third try on the stroke of half time when they kicked a penalty to touch and prop Tom Fraser crashed over from the resulting rolling maul. Foley missed the conversion to leave the home team with a 15-8 lead at the interval.
Quins wrapped up their bonus point with a fourth try 10 minutes into the second half when Fintona Hillyard finished off a backs move in the corner.
Kirkwood went over for his second try on 66 minutes. Once again Ards spilled the ball and the scrum half picked up and sprinted under the posts with Foley adding the conversion.
Quins had plenty of chances to add to the score but couldn’t turn pressure into points due to a mixture of good defence and some poor finishing.
Results:
Ballynahinch 15 Armagh 16
Dungannon 40 Rainey 17
Banbridge 21 Ballymena 29
Instonians 24 Queen’s 29
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