Despite being 10 points to nil behind after just 9 minutes and by 22 points (32-10) at half time, Collidge rallied in the second half but eventually lost 39-22 to a well organised and talented Quins side ably directed throughout by the excellent half-backs Ian Porter and Stuart Olding.

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE, UCD BOWL, SATURDAY JANUARY 14   KICK-OFF 14.30

It was Porter who kicked a penalty on 2 minutes to put the visitors ahead (0-3) and then following the breakdown of a promising Collidge move on 9 mins Stuart Olding broke clear for the first of his 2 tries (0-10).

On 11 minutes Niall Earls put Collidge on the board with a 35m penalty after some good work by hooker David Doyle and captain Brian Cawley (3-10) and moments later were level when the unstoppable Danny Kenny powered over and Earlsie added the 2points (10-10)

However for the remainder of the first- half Collidge defense was troubled by Quins and could not attack effectively to add to the score.

On 19 mins Quins (who dominated at the breakdown) went ahead through a Porter penalty (10-13) and then 2 minutes later their pack powered over the line with the very effective No 8 Neil McComb touching down (10-20). Then, after some frantic defending by Collidge, McComb again it was who scored his second try on 27 mins converted by Porter(10-27).

With most of the play now in the Collidge half of the pitch, attacking opportunities were rare but probing runs from Sam Coughlan-Murray, Richie Bent and Alex Kelly suggested a breakthrough on occasion.

Quins went further ahead with out-half Stuart Olding’s try on 39mins (converted by Porter) bringing the score at half-time to 10-32.

(Pictures provided by Caoimhe McDonnell and University Observer) 

The anticipated second-half improvement from Collidge saw Rob Shanley go over in the corner after some excellent and crisp movement of the ball through the hands of the now livelier back-line ... including sub scrum-half Peter Du Toit performing very well at centre! James Thornton missed the conversion (15-32)

The game remained without another score for the following 20 mins with Collidge now gaining some ascendancy, largely through their superior work at the breakdown where Danny Kenny, James Tracey, David Doyle and Risteard Byrne were engineering the turnovers and forcing the errors from Quins.

A superb break and run on 25 mins from David Doyle and an off-load to Brian Cawley led to an excellent touchdown by James Tracey ... the difficult conversion completed by James Thornton (22-32)

With 15 mins still left to play the possibility of catching Quins became very real .....or at least coming away with 2 league points (1 for losing and 1 for 4 trys) which would be an excellent return given the lacklustre start.

This wasn’t to be however as after some relentless and sustained Collidge multi-phase play, Quins worked their way up the pitch and No 7 Laurence Babe crossed for a try which Porter converted (39-22).

Ultimately it was the slow, sluggish start by Collidge which gifted the early initiative to Belfast Harlequins and which, as it turned out, made the subsequent point-chase impossible.

Collidge remain in 7th position and for next match visit UCC (bottom placed) on January 28th.

Pictures provided by Caoimhe McDonnell and University Observer  

15 Michael Twomey; 14 Sam Coughlan-Murray; 13 Alex Kelly; 12 David Lynch; 11 Tom Fletcher;10 Niall Earls; 9 Rob Shanley; 1 Kieran Moloney; 2 David Doyle; 3 Brian Hall; 4 Brian Cawley (Captain); 5 Mark Flanagan; 6 Keelan McKenna; 7 Danny Kenny; 8 Richie Bent.

REPLACEMENTS .... (all used) 16 James Tracey; 17 Risteard Byrne; 18 Mark McGroarty; 19 Peter Du Toit; 20 James Thornton.