BELFAST HARLEQUINS fully deserved their league victory over Blackrock but at one stage at the start of the fourth quarter the visitors brought the score back to 23-19 and looked like holding on for a bonus point at Deramore Park.

They, mathematically, were still in the relegation zone before yesterday's crucial encounter, so that bonus point would have been of huge benefit in their battle against the drop .

It was a fast and furious open game of rugby with the fleet-footed three quarters showing their capabilities on a firm pitch. Blackrock got off to a great start and following a couple of good moves of many phases, Jim Carr put them in front with a try which Paddy O'Toole converted.

Harlequins out-half Johnny McClaughlin was their man of the match, contributing 13 points with three penalties and two conversions.

He reduced the arrears with a penalty but the visitors were reduced to 14 players when hooker David Gavin was yellow carded.

This set them back and gave the home side confidence, which they justly used. A good forward move and a Chris McCarey touchdown to the right of the post for McClaughlin to convert.

Quins always looked dangerous and a superb break by Colin Atkinson resulted in scrum-half Roger Kirkwood picking up and cross for an unconverted try.

So the scoreline read 15-7 in Quins favour at half time, which was a fair reflection of the play as they were hoping to retain their sixth position in the league table.

Victory would also give them a confidence boost before their meeting with Malone in the Senior Cup final at Ravenhill next Friday night.

Sixteen minutes into the second half and the home side took advantage of some weak tackling to score their third try. Full back Mark Kettyle, a strong runner, went through the Blackrock defence from around half way and after being tackled, linked with Johnny Lowe.

He showed his pace and side-stepped his way through the remaining defence to put the Belfast side 20-7 in front.

McClaughlin added his second penalty to further increase the lead but then Blackrock struck back with two tries in two minutes.

Quins were caught napping and may have thought the sixteen point lead was enough, but Blackrock took advantage of their shortcomings with two excellent tries.

Adam Byrne charged over for the first, although most people, except the referee, thought he had dropped the ball before grounding. Nevertheless it was five vital points for the Leinster side before O'Toole added the conversion.

A minute later and with Quins weak defensive work allowed the visitors to come back into the game. Number eight Dillon scored close to touch to make the scoreline 23-19.

Quins retorted with another solo effort from Johnny Lowe, which McClaughlin converted before he later added an injury-time penalty.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS M Kettyle; J Lowe, D Cave, N Stewart, P McKenzie; J McClaughlin, R Kirkwood; C Keown, S Philpott, R Moore, R Frost, L Stevenson, R Devonshire, C Atkinson, C McCarey Subs M Glancy for Cave, 50 mins; W Tang for Philpott, 75 mins

BLACKROCK COLLEGE G Brown; A Pinto, J Carr, M Price, P Cauldwell; P O'Toole, R Molloy, C Murphy, D Gavin, M Cuffe, V Ryan, O Cullen, A Byrne, D Laffan, D Dillon Referee T Collins (Munster)