Author: Bob Given
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Premier Women: Belfast Harlequins 0 Malone 63
On Sunday afternoon Malone made the short journey to Deramore Park to play Belfast Harlequins in a Women’s Premiership fixture. Unbeaten Malone lay 1st in the table, Quins 6th. In the early clashes Malone dominated possession but it took until the 11th minute to register their first try, when Jill Stephens sniped over far out, on…
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AIL2B: Belfast Harlequins 30 Skerries 30
On Saturday afternoon it was a short walk from the hockey pitch to the rugby pitch for the AIL2B league game between Belfast Harlequins and Skerries from north Co Dublin. A well struck long range penalty goal by Ronan Mulcahy gave Skerries a 3-0 lead after 8 minutes. Quins responded when Mark Glover cut back…
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Women Premier: Belfast Harlequins 4 Banbridge 0
On Saturday, at lunchtime, Banbridge were the visitors to Deramore Park to face Belfast Harlequins in a Women’s Premier fixture. Banbridge had the majority of play in the scoreless 1st quarter. Their midfield dominated but the forwards couldn’t find space to create any meaningful chances. After 18 minutes a drive from midfield and a defence splitting…
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United Rugby Championship: Ulster 26 Bulls 19
On Sunday evening Ulster played the Bulls, the first game on the newly laid 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium. Having won their previous United Rugby Championship game, both sides were keen to make it 2 from 2. Ulster started strongly and from a tap penalty Tom Stewart drove over beside the posts. Neil Doak’s conversion…
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Men Premier: Queen’s University 2 North Down 2
On Saturday afternoon Queens faced North Down in a Men’s Premier League fixture at The Dub, Upper Malone. In a scoreless 1st half Queens were totally in control, dominating midfield and creating opportunities for the forwards. A stubborn and at times scrambling North Down defence kept Queens at bay, despite the plethora of penalty corners…
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Schools Friendly: Royal Belfast Academical Institution 0 Blackrock College 27
On Saturday morning Blackrock College were the visitors to Osborne to play Royal Belfast Academical Institution. From kick off Blackrock set up camp in the Inst half. By drawing Inst players in to rucks and mauls, they created space out wide. Only ferocious and sometimes last gasp tackling by Inst prevented scores. Eventually the dam…
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McDowell Cup: The Royal School Armagh 3 Sullivan Upper School 1
On Monday afternoon Sullivan Upper School II were The Royal School Armagh’s visitors for a McDowell Cup 1st round tie. Armagh caught Sullivan cold and in their first attack, from a through ball Gabby Moore slotted the ball home, after 3 minutes for a 1-0 lead. Both sides showed attacking flair but it was Sullivan, through…
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Championship Women: Queen’s University II 27 North Down 24
On a sunny, autumnal Sunday afternoon Queens 2 hosted North Down at The Dub in a Women’s Championship B fixture. From kick off it was a forward dominated game, with both packs crashing into each other in an attempt to gain ground. There was little opportunity for backs show their pace. On 18 minutes Kate…
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AIL1B: Queens 41 Garryowen 32
On Saturday Garryowen had the long drive from Limerick to face Queens in an AIL1B league fixture at The Dub. Queens took the lead, in this high scoring game, when Jonny Hunter crossed, on the right, after 14 minutes. A James Humphreys penalty goal, on 16 minutes, put Queens 8-0 up. Queens rather lost their…
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Women Premiership: Queen’s University 1 Ards 0
By Saturday lunchtime I had made my way from Lisburn to The Dub for the hotly anticipated top of the Women’s Premiership clash between Queens and Ards. First played second and no quarter was asked nor given, in front of a crowd, bathed in autumn sunshine. Leaders Ards quickly found their rhythm forcing Queens to…