Queen’s University and Malone met in the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership on Saturday in the last round before the start of their AIL campaigns next weekend.

Malone began their game strongly putting Queen’s under pressure to give away a penalty, Rory Campbell converting to give Malone a 3-0 lead in the first few minutes. 

Report and video by Alex McIlwaine

Some strong carries from Malone’s back row, Ryan Clarke, put Queen’s under pressure once again, and a deliberate knock on added a penalty try to the Red Sox’s total, to take the score to 10-0 to Malone in the first quarter.

Queens came back into the game quickly with some high tempo passing and an impressive break from captain David Whitten saw him send second row Jake McCay over the white wash in the first half. Ritchie McMaster converting.

The students continued to press and a forced pass from Malone led to the loose ball being kicked ahead for Robbie Johnson to chase down. McMaster converted to give Queen’s 17-10 advantage. 

The home team started the second half determined not to give Malone any room to move. Another strong break from Whitten with a strong supporting line from Falemaka Vave saw the winger dot down in the corner to take the score to  22-10.

Vave’s try below. 

Malone managed to gain another 3 points as a penalty was awarded against Queens. A few strong carries and some quick hands across the backs, saw Malone almost gain their second try from their hard working centre, but the try was disallowed due to a knock on.

The visitors looked frustrated in the final ten minutes as they gave away a penalty to add another 3 points to Queens total followed by a penalty try, for a collapsed maul, to give a final score of 32-13 in Queen’s favour.

The Premiership is now parked until December with Queens siting in third place and Malone fourth in Division 1.