Belfast Harlequins re-invigorated their league campaign with a 26 – 10 win against Malahide on a crisp Sunday afternoon at Deramore Park.

Malahide were quick to settle into the pace of the game and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Quins Ladies when Malahide out half Grainne “Bunny” Warren broke through a slack defence to score in the opening minutes.

Quins worked their way back into the game but despite coming close on several occasions the home side continually lost the ball at the breakdown with the visitors working hard to strip the ball at contact.

However it was on such a turnover close to the Malahide line that hard working winger, Zoe Templeton, intercepted a loose pass to sprint clear and touch down bringing the score to 5 – 5.

The match became a bit of a midfield battle with both defences cancelling each other out but towards the end of the first half a misplaced kick was fielded by Quins full back Ashleigh Baxter who weaved her way out of trouble, sprinting clear from the half way line to score under the posts with a spectacular dive. Nikki Caughey converted taking the half time score to 12 -5.

Quins got their act together at the breakdown at the start of the second half and were able to apply pressure to the Malahide line. With the visitors chasing the game Caughey intercepted another loose pass from twenty yards out to score under the posts. Caughey converted her own try moving the score along to 19 – 5 with the home side now looking comfortable.

The teams swapped tries in the final ten minutes with Baxter scoring her second, and the bonus point, try. Caughey converted to take the score to Belfast Harlequins 26 Malahide 10.

Belfast Harlequins: Sorcha Chipperfield, Jen Goodall, Alanagh Chipperfield, Frankie Durieux, Kara Swales, Kathryn Hanna, Annmarie Nolan, Eileen McIlroy, Jenna Stewart, Nikki Caughey, Rebecca Francis, Laura Ferguson, Katie O’Rourke, Zoe Templeton, Ashleigh Baxter, Brenda Artt, Jessica Elliott, Lauren Moore, Jenny Waide, Fiona McCarney, Rachel Morton, Christine Robb.