Ulster sides continue to feature strongly in the AIL1B recording three bonus points wins this weekend, placing three of the four Ulster sides in the top four positions in the league.
The downside was that one of those bonus wins was in a local derby with Dungannon taking the honours at Deramore, beating Belfast Harlequins 15 – 27 with tries from Stuart McCloskey, Peter Nelson, Chris Cochran and Mark Farquhar.
Quins let this one slip away in the first half, with Barker and Jenkinson particularly effective in the second row for the visitors. Quins upped their game in the second half and dominated large periods of the game with tries from Alistair Heatlie and Michael Ferguson.
However a strong defensive effort from the visitors and an ability to take points on offer kept Dungannon comfortably in front. The result sees Dungannon and Quins switch places in the league at 4th and 6th respectively.
Ballymena consolidated their position in third place with a comfortable four try 32 – 19 home win over bottom of the table Galwegians. The Eaton Park outfit ran in tries from Alasdair Frazer, John Semple, Stephen Mulholland and Ricky Andrew, but with Galwegians replying with three of their own it was the boot Semple that kept the home side well in-front with the winger adding three conversions and two penalties to clock up 18 points on the day.
League leaders Ballynahinch went one better bagging five tries in a Willie Faloon inspired romp against struggling U.C.C.. Tries from Aaron Ferris (2), David Nicholson, Faloon and James Simpson added to three James Lash conversions were enough to seal the deal as the visitors struggled to match them up front. The bonus point moves Hinch another point away from chasing Galwegians in this highly entertaining league.
Results and Scorers
Belfast Harlequins 15 – 27 Dungannon
Belfast Harlequins Scorers: Tries: Alistair Heatlie, Michael Ferguson. Cons: Ian Porter. Drop: James Shiells.
Dungannon Scorers: Tries: Stuart McCloskey, Peter Nelson, Chris Cochrane, Mark Farquhar. Cons: Paddy Jackson 2. Pen: Paddy Jackson.
Belfast Harlequins. Michael Heaney; Rory Scholes, Mark Kettyle, Willie Stewart, Matt Holmes; James Shiells, Ian Porter; Robert Logan (capt), Niall Annett, Richard Lutton, Gareth Rourke, Neil McComb, Lawrence Babe, Alistair Scott, Alistair Heatlie, Paul Greenaway, Mark McGrath, Michael Ferguson, David Creighton, Owen McMurray.
Dungannon. Peter Nelson; Chris Farrell, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Chris Cochrane; Paddy Jackson, Michael Kirkwood; Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar, Tim Barker, Mark Jenkinson (capt), Derek Hall, Callum Threlfall, James McMahon, James McMahon, Phil Whyte, Timmy Smith, Craig Miller, Conor Gaston.
Ballymena 32 – 19 Galwegians
Ballymena Scorers: Tries: Alasdair Frazer, John Semple, Stephen Mulholland, Ricky Andrew. Cons: John Semple 3. Pens: John Semple 2.
Ballymena: Ricky Andrew, John Semple, Alan Smyth, Richard Aingworth, Alasdair Frazer, Martin Irwin, Blane McIlroy, James Carson, Andrew Warwick, Adrian Cundell, Darryl O’Kane, Adie Graham, Andrew Kerr, Paul Pritchard, Stephen Mulholland, Andrew Ferguson, James Carmichael, Joel Andrew, Ross Hackney, David O’Hara.
Ballynahinch 31 – 11 U.C.C.
Ballynahinch Scorers: Tries: Aaron Ferris 2, David Nicholson, Willie Faloon, James Simpson. Cons: James Lash 3
Ballynahinch: David Nicholson; Ian Whitten, Stuart Morrow, James Thompson, Aaron Ferris; James Lash, Harry McAleese; Fergal Lynch, Neil Hanna, James Simpson, Jonny Madden, Chris Napier, Jamie Kirk, Willie Faloon, James Simpson, Aaron Cairns, Mark McCormick, Jonny Graham, Mattie Nelson, Chris Stevenson.
In the other games at the weekend UL Bohs went down 8 – 12 to visitors Buccaneers and UCD recorded a comfortable 21 – 8 win over an out of sorts Bruff.
This leaves the league table as follow:
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | TB | LB | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Ballynahinch | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 65 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | |
Buccaneers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 46 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 3 | |
Ballymena | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 69 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 4 |  |
Dungannon | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 65 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 5 | |
U.L. Bohemian | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 51 | 40 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 |  |
Belfast Harlequins | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 81 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | |
UCD | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 82 | -8 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 8 | |
Bruff | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 68 | 84 | -16 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | |
U.C.C. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 81 | -39 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | |
Galwegians | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 63 | 125 | -62 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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