This top of the table league clash didn’t disappoint as both sides scored three tries with the visitors kicking being the deciding factor.

At the time of my arrival both teams had scored a try. Quins had scored through Lesley-ann Stirling and Cill Dara had responded with a try by Carmela Morey. Sinead McBride converted for Cill Dara taking the score to 5 – 7.

Harlequins went into the lead with Lesley-ann Stirling scoring her second try after Nikki Caughey had spilled an earlier attempt over the line. The visitors responded with Lorraine McCarthy going over after good work by McBride and with McBride adding the extras the half time score moved on to 10 – 14.

Cill Dara scored again after the break with McCarthy getting her second and the trusty boot of McBride converted to give the visitors a decisive 10 – 21 lead.

Quins pushed hard to get something out of the game and came close on several occasions but were unable to capitalise on their field position choosing to run a series of kickable penalties and the visitors went further ahead with a McBride penalty pushing the score on to 10 – 24.

The home side refused to give up and spent the closing minutes camped close to the visitors try line and after several close efforts, from Sorcha Chipperfield and Laura Ferguson, Nikki Caughey barged her way to the line to score a deserved try. The conversion was missed and the whistle blew giving a final score of 15 – 24.

Belfast Harlequins: Sorcha Chipperfield , Jen Goodall, Alanagh Chipperfield, Frankie Durieux, Kathryn Hanna, Emma Boyd, Annmarie Nolan, Eileen McIlroy, Jenna ‘Twinkle’ Stewart, Nikki Caughey, Lesleyann Stirling, Laura Ferguson, Rachel Morton, Katie O’Rourke, Zoe Templeton, Amy Greenlee, Claire ‘Squeak’ Knipe, Ashleigh Baxter.