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 inside, from the right wing and ran in unopposed under the Skerries posts. Charlie Beattie’s conversion had Quins 7-3 up, after 12 minutes.
More Quins pressure ensued, and it was quick thinking by Benji Neill, who pounced on a ball, in goal, which had emerged from a ruck, to add Quins 2nd try, after 21 minutes.
When Cole Blyde drove over after 34 minutes, Quins led 17-3.
In the dying moments of the 1st half Peter O’Neill pulled a one back for Skerries. Mulcahy’s conversion made in 17-10 to Quins. There was just time for a Beattie penalty goal to put Quins up 20-10 at halftime.
After the break, another long range Mulchay penalty goal brought Skerries back to 13-20, after 44 minutes.
A 50th minute Kevin McGrath try, converted by Mulchay, brought the teams level 20-20.
A huge drive, by Quins, from a lineout maul saw Joel Dundas score. Beattie’s conversion moved Quin’s back into the lead 27-20 after 55 minutes.
On 62 minutes Skerries Darragh McEnaney got over, following a series of pick and goes. Mulchay’s conversion had the teams level again at 27-27.
On 69 minutes Quins attempted to close out the game, through a Beattie penalty goal, to lead 30-27.
Mulchay, who had been a thorn in Quins side, all afternoon, struck another long range penalty goal to tie the scores 30-30 after 74 minutes.
Both sides played out the remaining minutes careful not to concede any penalties.
Quins 3 points, from the draw and try bonus point move them up to 4th place in AIL2B.
Match Gallery
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