Belfast Harlequins Seconds 13
BELFAST Harlequins Seconds visited Rifle Park in this re-arranged Second XV league fixture with the locals keen to exact revenge for an earlier defeat at Deramore.
This intention was evident from the kick-off as Ba
nn set off at a frantic pace as the pack made good ground, not allowing the opposition to form any cohesion in defence.
Although Bann were asking questions of the visitors’ defence 15 minutes had elapsed before they were able to register the first points.
After a phase of good ball retention by the pack from the 10 metre line to 30 metres out Craig Mulholland released the ball to the backs for James Andrews to show his power as he drove through the defence before being held up five metres out.
The lack of support in attack enabled ‘Quins to stifle the ball but the penalty was awarded to Bann for a defender not making any effort to get out of the way on Bann’s side of the ruck. Philip Morrison slotted over the kick to give Bann a 3-0 lead.
From the re-start Bann allowed the visitors time in their half but good defending restricted them to a solitary unsuccessful penalty attempt.
The home team then began to get their rhythm back, as the forwards maintained possession to progress up the field. From one impressive driving maul, gaining about 20metres, scrum half Mulholland made a blistering break down the blind side before being held up. He was able to set up the ball for the supporting pack to resume a further driving maul but with the try line beckoning the referee penalised Bann for not making use of the ball when the maul went down.
The remainder of the half saw any good opportunities lost by a lack of control at critical times or by indiscretions by the ‘Quins pack, an issue they eventually paid for when the hooker received a yellow card just before the interval.
After the break, with the setting sun and wind to their advantage and playing against 14 men, Bann went on a series of attacks. The foundation of these came from good probing kicks by out-half Francois Viljoen and even more vigorous driving mauls.
From one such kick Morrison raced ahead and collected the ball beautifully at speed but on this occasion he was unlucky to be caught in an area of numerous defenders.
As the visitors were forced into some desperate defending a quick line-out by Bann saw them attack Quins at speed with centre James Andrews going on a strong run that saw him collect the ball and power over the line in the corner only for the referee to give no score for not sighting the grounding of the ball.
Minutes later it was Viljoen’s turn to dart through several defenders only to be held up short of the line.
