CORK CONSTITUTION overwhelmed Belfast Harlequins when they ran in eight tries in a rather one-sided second half at Deramore Park yesterday. The visitors played some scintillating rugby at times and the home side had no answer as they looked to claw back hopes of making the divisional semi-finals.

Constitution's attacking play overwhelmed their opponents as they crossed the line with ease at times on their way to racking up a massive 53-point total.

Cork started the day lying just one place ahead of their opponents in the league table but their performance suggested there was much much more between the sides. And their emphatic win means they are now firmly inside the top four while Harlequins chances of reaching the playoff stages have greatly diminished.

Darragh Lyons and Mick Glancy exchanged early penalties but a superb passing movement resulted in Cronan Healy crossing for a try which Lyons converted.

Harlequins reduced the arrears with a Rod Moore try before a Conrad O'Sullivan break allowed Mick Ross to score for the Munster team which Lyons converted.

The score was 17-8 at half time and the breakaway O'Sullivan try just after the restart increased the advantage. When Andy Ward was yellow carded, Cork piled on the pressure and had a second try from Healy and one from Alex Ryan.

Richard Lane scored the next but a late rally by the Belfast side resulted in tries by Darren Cave and Mark Kettyle, Glancy converting both. In the last couple of minutes Conor Quaid score a try and converted it as well as that from Ed Leamy.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS M Kettyle; J Lowe, D Cave, J McClaughlin, P McKenzie; M Glancy, R Kirkwood; C Keown, S Philpott, R Moore, R Frost, L Stevenson, A Ward, D Doherty, C McCarey

CORK CONSTITUTION R Lane; D O'Riordan, T Gleeson, C O'Sullivan, C Healy; D Lyons, F Murphy; T Ryan, D Murphy, M Ross, S Cottrell, J Moloney, M O'Connell, B Cutriss, F Cogan Subs A Ryan for O'Riordan, 40 mins; C Quaid for Lyons, 53 mins; E Leamy for O'Connell, 63 mins; L Hill for D Murray, 67 mins Referee D Keane (Leinster)