On Sunday afternoon Belfast Harlequins met Queen’s University at Deramore Park for a ‘hit out’.The enlarged squads for both teams played 3 x 25 minute periods to allow coaches to test their rosters and try new combinations of players.

Report and images by Bob Given Photography

Queen’s quickly established territory & possession, depriving Quins of the ball. Two unconverted tries by Arantza Riba and Aishing McMahon gave Queen’s a 10-0 lead at the end of the 1st period.

Both teams were extensively rejigged at the 1st break and Quins came out all guns blazing. They scored 3 tries, by Carys Honeyford, Aoife McTaggart and Lilly Vint, one converted by Stacey Bryce, to give Quins a 17-10 lead at the 2nd break.

Again coaches made use of their squads. Queen’s turned the game around in the 3rd period scoring an unconverted try by Lydia Montgomery, before a late Diane Ramsey try, converted by Lauren Margerison, sealed a 22-17 win.

The game will have proved useful to both set of coaches before the start of the league campaigns.

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