Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

The counter-attraction of the Aviva Stadium international and the desire of coaches to rest doubtful players meant neither team was at full strength. Andrew Kirkwood and Jordan Weir started on the flanks for the home side, while Andrew Baird had his first start for the First XV in the No 7 shirt.

Harlequins gave early warning of the potential within their threequarters as they sent left winger Matthew Holmes scorching in for a second minute try, with Michael Allen adding the tricky conversion.

But with the Bann pack more than holding their own against the AIL Division Two forwards, the Bann backs began to put in some probing runs of their own, with Robin Thompson and Ashley Finlay exposing the vulnerability of the visitors' defence on separate occasions.

After Colin Bickerstaff had stolen lineout ball at a 5-metre ‘Quins lineout to stymie a clear scoring opportunity for the city side, play moved back to halfway and Thompson put in a glorious 40 metre break. He was brought to ground under the opposition posts and Bann were awarded the scrum. ‘Quins were penalised and Bann opted for a second set piece - that finished in a brief dust-up between the packs, at the end of which the referee decided on a defence put-in and the danger was cleared.

Five minutes later Bann were again attacking just inside the ‘Quins half when a pass was intercepted and full back Gavin McLoughlin was on hand to finish off, touching down under the home posts for Roger Kirkwood to add the conversion and give his side a flattering 0-14 interval lead.

Bickerstaff's withdrawal from the fray with a knock saw the introduction to the Bann back row of another debutant in Sam Boyd, a graduate of last season's U-19 side.

Bann dominated proceedings in the opening minutes of the second half, with hooker Paul Ross eventually crossing for a deserved try after the ‘Quins line had been pummelled.

Thompson's conversion attempt missed the target and ‘Quins regained possession from the re-start. After a number of phases Allen broke clear to score under the posts, adding the conversion to take his side into a 5-21 lead with 47 minutes played.

There was no further scoring but no shortage of action as the exchanges became more fractious. Bann's best scoring opportunities came from a number of set scrums close to the ‘Quins line, but despite forcing the visiting pack to concede penalties at the set piece, they were unable to add to their tally.

A late surging run from Ryan Patterson should have produced a score but support was slow to arrive and the threat to the try line was quickly snuffed out.

Replacement hooker Jonny Weir shared game time with Ross, and Matthew Bird, Mark Doherty and Michael Runciman came off the bench late in the game to get their first taste of senior league rugby.

Coach Daniel Soper will hope to have a full squad to select from for Saturday's Ulster Bank League game against Cork visitors Highfield. With just three Saturdays of All-Ireland rugby left, a win is absolutely essential if Bann are to stay in the hunt for one of the five promotion places on offer. Fifth place would earn a play-off against the bottom team in Division Two. But with Rainey just five points adrift of Bann in sixth place, the Rifle Park team must win at least two of their last three games and pick up a couple of bonus points if they are to be sure of that opportunity.