Queens Back Into the All Ireland League
Queens University are back into the All Ireland League despite losing their final game in the qualifying round robin, 12-9, to Highfield in Upper Malone on Saturday.
Because they finished within three points of the winners, and having gone into the match with 10 points, Queens secured a bonus point to give them the automatic promotion spot. Highfield finish second in ther table and now face a play off with Richmond in their attempt to make an immediate return to AIL fare. Last year Highfield lost their AIB League status when they were beaten by Connemara in a similar play-off situation.
In the other game of the round robin, Kilkenny scored seven tries as they easily accounted for Westport, 41-10 but still ended up in third place.
In the course of the series Queens managed to harvest three bonus points and they proved vital in the final analysis. Against Highfiled, they trailed 9-6 at half time and went further behind when Wayne Jervis landed his second drop goal. However, a third penalty from Johnny Patton kept Queens in touch and the home side never lost sight of what exactly they needed to achieve.