Bangor boost their survival quest

IT was no surprise that the weather was more than a factor at the weekend on the games that were played and those that didn’t make the cut.

Two results, though, did stand out from the howling wind and driving rain as Ulster derby wins on the road for Bangor and Queen’s University were of more than passing significance.

Bangor took what could be a sizeable stride away from the relegation zone with their 2C win at City of Derry.

Tom Rock’s squad came through the testing conditions to claim victory by 14-7 and, though they stayed in seventh, the north Down side are now four in front of Derry, who remain ninth but on 20 points after claiming a losing bonus point.

All the scores came in the opening half, a penalty try which arrived following Phil Whyte’s opening effort for Bangor, the latter converted by Rhys Larmour.

Simon Logue crossed for Derry with Alex McDonnell converting, which saw the sides tied together at 7-7 until the penalty try was awarded.

Arguably the most attention-grabbing result was in 2A, where Queen’s again got the better of Rainey Old Boys.

They won 15-10 in a game which had a delayed kick-off while arrangements were made to switch to an artificial surface.

The students — who had narrowly won at the Dub when the sides met in November — raced into a 15-0 lead through Jake Mc

Cray and Matthew Keane touchdowns along with a conversion and penalty from Ritchie McMaster.

Rainey, who have now slipped from second to fourth, though two points behind Cashel and Queen’s who are now table-toppers Barnhall’s nearest challengers, responded with a penalty try and late Marti Connolly penalty.

The result meant that the students hoisted themselves up a place to third in the table in what looks like it will be a tense race for the division’s top four.

Also in 2A, Ballymena had a positive outcome and in doing so moved up to seventh after a Rodger McBurney try helped them to a surprise 7-0 result over Old Crescent at Eaton Park.

In 2B, Dungannon drew 7-7 at Galwegians, James McMahon scoring for the visitors.

The Tyrone side looked oddson to win a second game on the bounce until a rare attack from their hosts resulted in a penalty try.

Gannon stayed in ninth but closed the gap on Belfast Harlequins who have a game in hand.

Indeed, two matches fell to Storm Dennis, the 2C meeting of Omagh and Skerries at Thomas Mellon Playing Fields and, in 2B, Quins’ trip to Ballina.

Div2A: Ballymena 7 Old Crescent 0, Rainey Old Boys 10 Queen’s University 15.

Div2B: Ballina v Belfast Harlequins called off, Galwegians 7 Dungannon 7.

Div2C: City of Derry 7 Bangor 14, Omagh v Skerries called off.

As expected, he topped the stats with 23 carries and 15 tackles. Three turnovers were also won, the last of these in the 80th minute.