Dungannon Yield Bonus Point From Belfast Trip
This keenly-contested Ulster derby at Deramore Park went the way of Dungannon as they beat Belfast Harlequins 27-15, grabbing a bonus point in the process.
With their pack dominating up front, the Tyrone outfit were 20-3 to the good at half-time and their boss Justin Fitzpatrick will have been delighted to see prop Mark Farquhar and pacy backs Stuart McCloskey, Peter Nelson and Chris Cochrane all cross the 'Quins whitewash.
Belfast Harlequins were put under immediately in the forward exchanges, a powerful Dungannon scrum yielding a turnover and a neat necklace of passes set up centre McCloskey for the opening try in the seventh minute.
Out-half Paddy Jackson added the extras but failed with his conversion attempt of Nelson's try which followed just two minutes later.
Nelson was up in support to take an offload from captain Mark Jenkinson who had done well to keep the momentum going following an initial break from flanker Callum Threlfall.
'Quins went offside at a ruck on the half hour mark and Jackson's successful penalty pushed 'Gannon's lead out to 15-0.
Two minutes later, Harlequins number 10 James Shiells landed a drop goal to get the home side off the mark. But Fitzpatrick's men had the final say before the break as Cochrane darted onto a deft Paul McKenzie pass for a well-crafted seven-pointer.
Dungannon tighthead Farquhar sealed the bonus point for his side with a 52nd minute touchdown and Jackson's successful conversion turned out to be the visitors' final score.
They were content to sit back and soak up the pressure from 'Quins for the remainder. The hosts salvaged some pride with two consolation tries.
After a series of drives, hard-working number 8 Alistair Heatlie dived over in the 58th minute for a try which scrum half Ian Porter converted, and replacement Michael Ferguson added the second in the dying minutes.
It was a richly deserved victory for Dungannon who benefited from a magnificent performance from Ulster's Tim Barker in the second row, while centres McCloskey and McKenzie exerted quite an influence on the game.
The Ulster-capped Neil McComb came to the fore for Harlequins in the closing stages but it was too little, too late for Adam Larkin's men who face a trip to UCC next weekend.
Referee: Mark Patton (IRFU)