13 September 2004 Belfast Harlequins 43 - 13  Ards RFC Match Photographs (Initial Report courtesy of the Belfast Telegraph) The top of Ulster Senior League has a familiar look to it with the three Division One sides leading the way. Defending champions Grafton Belfast Harlequins are in pole position with four wins out of four while both Ballymena and Dungannon are unbeaten and have a match in hand over the Deramore club. Quins recorded a 43-13 victory over Ards at Hamilton Park to stretch their unbeaten run in the competition to 31 games. Coach Andre Bester thought his whole side contributed to the victory. "We mauled and scrummed very well and they had very little ball plus are backs are playing very well at the moment," said Bester. The home side led 13-10 at the break with out half Stuart Paul scoring all their points. His first try came from an interception and he added a penalty. Quins levelled with tries from centre Greg Mitchell and lock Johnny Poole before Paul grabbed his second score. Five more tries followed as Quins dominated the second half with Jarleth Carey, Andy Matchett and Gary Brown among the scorers. From the touch line. Ards provided the sternest test thus far, the whole Ards 15 were really physical espically during the first 40 minutes and put in some thunderous tackles. There initial score came as Harlequins moved the ball wide on their 10m line and the Ards centre nabbed the ball and went under the posts, not the best start. The harlequins pack took up the mantle and pressed hard but seemed unable to cross the ards line. The first half finished 13 10 in the home sides favour, Harlequins scoring through Greg Mitchell and Johnny Pool. The second half saw an entirely different game the Harlequins pack were magnificent they scrummaged and mauled superbly, Jarleth was marvellous in the loose and young prop Alex Smith had a suberp game putting his opposite number under ememse pressure. Quins scored a total of five tries  through Carey, Matchett, and Gary Brown in the second period. Ards were deprived of any real possession and winger Colin Atkinson was denied a late try by the referee who adjudged he did not ground the ball. The final score now 43 - 13 in favour of the visitors.  Next week we take on arch rivals Ballymena at the Grafton Arena in what has the making of a cracking game, I for one won't miss it. See you there.

9 September 2004 Belfast Harlequins -v- Queens University Won 26 - 19 Ulster League Report courtesy of Richard Mulligan (Newsletter) A GAME Queen's pushed Belfast Harlequins all the way at Deramore last night. Andre Bester made several changes to his side as he gives all available players a chance to show their abilities but, in doing so, the team lacked continuity and the handling at times was appalling. Harlequins No 8, Chris McCarey, weighed in with a hat-trick, although he blotted his copybook with a second half sinbinning. While his treble was one of the highlights, the try of the match came midway through the first half when the Students broke from deep in their own half and Stuart Glass tore away down the right wing. He had Jonny Rainey in support and he did enough to create the opening for scrumhalf Mel Ferry to go over. Fullback John Nicholl added the extras to make it 14-7. Andy Lowe extended the home lead to 21-7, Swetman landing his thrid conversion, but Ferry was on hand to reduced the arrears at the interval to 21-14, when he kicked ahead from a ruck, Nicholl again converting. The students enjoyed the territorial advantage in the second half and scored a great try through Rainey. But Quins had the final say five minutes from the end, McCarey going over to complete his hattrick.

4 September 2004 Belfast Harlequins vs Portadown Match Photographs Won 62 – 6 Ulster League.   Stuart Lambe, Jonny Lowe 2 tries each; Greg Mitchell, Colin Atkinson, Johnny Poole, Andy Lowe, Jarlath Carey and Conor Keown 1 try each, Michael Swetman 4 con Gavin McLaughlin 2 con.   15 Jonny Lowe, 14 Andy Lowe (sub Ryan Spence), 13 Greg Mitchell, 12 Michael Swetman, 11 Colin Atkinson, 10 Gavin McLaughlin, 9 Michael Finlay, 8 Stuart Lambe 7 Darren Barbour, 6 Neil Hanna, 5 Johnny Poole, 4 Louis McGowan, 3 Jarlath Carey, 2 Rory Best, 1 Conor Keown (sub Alex Smyth)   Grafton Harlequins overpowered Portadown by 10 tries to 2 Barry Gribbon penalties on Saturday at a sun drenched Chambers Park. Portadown had no answer to the power of the Quins pack that drove over for 4 tries. Some powerful and sparkling back play showed that, while there is a lot of work to do the side is more balanced this season. Given that a number of regulars are expected to return yet and the twos are charging again (they beat Portadown 64 -12 earlier) a good season is in prospect. The front row was very solid and Louis and new guy, Johnny Poole worked very hard. Neil Hanna is doing well in the back row and Darren and Stu were very effective. Michael Finlay sweated buckets in the heat but gave Gavin excellent service at out half. The three quarters were slick and strong and it was good to see Ryan Spence (Spanner) given a run where he did well. It is hard to give a detailed report given the one sidedness of the game. Jarlath’s sparkling dash from 25 yards (including dummy and side step) was a highlight. The pack is coming together well and scrimmaged, mauled and rucked efficiently. A good start and our 29th consecutive Ulster League win. Queens are at Deramore on Wednesday (7:30) and then Ards away on Saturday.

30  August 2004 Belfast Harlequins 40 - 14 Malone RFC (Report courtesy of Gavin Mairs Belfast Telegraph) 15 Jonny Lowe 14 David Mayne 13 Greg Mitchell 12 Michael Swetman 11 Colin Atkinson 10 Gavin McLaughlin 9 Andy Lowe (sub Michael Finlay) 8 Stuart Lamb 7 Chris McCarey 6 Darren Barbour 5 Johnny Poole 4 Louis McGowan 3 Conor Keown 2 Rory Best 1 Jarlath Carey (sub Alex Smyth) This was the second consecutive season that we had opened our Ulster League campaign  against Belfast rivals Malone RFC. Last season we played Malone at Gibson Park and ran out winners by 40 - 8. This time we had home advantage and were looking to secure a good start to this year's league campaign. Both sides, in fairness, did not put out full strength teams due to injury and Ulster U 21 commitments. Grafton Belfast Harlequins continued their unbeaten run in the Ulster Senior League to a remarkable 26 games (record) by outscoring Malone by six tries to one at Deramore. Andre was satisfied with the 40-14 victory as the team began their quest for a third consecutive title on Saturday. "It's difficult to get any continuity with so many players missing and we weren't help by having to go to uncontested scrums," said Bester. Quins opened the scoring courtesy of a penalty try when Malone illegally collapsed a scrum. Visiting out half Gareth Fry kicked two penalties but Malone conceded another penalty try for pulling the scrum down. More indiscipline from the Gibson Park side saw Simon Cahill and Thomas Ringland sin binned and the home side took advantage with a try from winger Colin Atkinson. Fry landed a third penalty two minutes after the re-start but three tries in 22 minutes sealed Quins' victory. Full back Johnny Lowe's effort was sandwiched between two Gavin McLoughlin touch downs. Michael Swetman converted five of the six tries and Malone's Dewet Bekker got a late consolation.

19 August 2004   Belfast Harlequins 3  NEC Harlequins 63 Match Photographs   Tuesday the 17th of August saw history being made at the Grafton Arena at Deramore Park, Belfast, when Belfast Harlequins played their English premiership big brothers NEC Harlequins in a pre season friendly. A crowd nearing 1000 supporters witnessed a try scoring feast with the visitors running out worthy but not unexpected winners by 63 points to 3.   To be fair, the margin of the score was about right. However, Belfast Harlequins maintained a lead of three points, a penalty from the boot of new signing Ian Humphreys, until the 46th minute, when captain Andre Vos crossed the line. Former Leinster out-half Andy Dunne converted to leave the half time score 7 – 3 to the visitors. Ian Humphreys having being substituted shortly before the break with a hamstring injury. Also prior to the break the home side lost influential hooker Rory Best and NEC lost Ireland fullback Gavin Duffy after a scuffle, yellow cards being shown to both players. The first half was a pacey affair with both sides attacking at every opportunity, the tackles were robust and the home side did not flinch and pressured the visitors line on a number of occasions and were unlucky not to score.   Nec Harlequins were expected to bring a development side to Deramore however they took to the pitch with no less than 8 Internationals in their starting line up. The second half was a different matter Nec Harlequins opened up with an early brace of tries from Samoan flanker Ace Tiatia, who had seen two chances slip, literally, through his hands in the first half, finished off from close range. And within a minute his national teammate, Steve So'oialo, darted over for try number three, with Andy Dunne maintaining his 100 per cent conversion record. The home side were shell shocked and as was to be expected after such a momentous effort in the first half Belfast Harlequins found the going hard and were put under enormous pressure out wide and found themselves under continuous attack from a determined Nec back division. The result was inevitable. So'oialo grabbed his second in the 50th minute, and five more would follow with Tiatia running in three more, former Ireland centre Mel Deane touching down and former England No 8 Tony Diprose also making the score sheet.  The final score of 63 – 3 did not, in my opinion, reflect the courage and total determination shown by the young men of Belfast Harlequins who never took a backward step especially during the first 50 minutes. Belfast Harlequins coach Andre Bester Said "We knew in the second half the physical conditioning would make a massive difference but I don't think anybody could believe how well we performed in the first half".  Speaking to many of the young Quins players after the match they were extremely positive and are looking forward to a very exciting season ahead. Congratulations to all the players who took part, especially to our new signings who all played very well and jelled together as a team. One feels that the season ahead holds a lot of promise.

 

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