A BLISTERING two-minute spell which saw Cork Con score two first-half tries gave them the platform to return to winning ways over Belfast Harlequins at Temple Hill yesterday.

With the game level on the scoreboard at 3-3 Cork Con's backs suddenly opened up and two superb passing moves later they were 15-3 ahead and in total control of the game, the impressive Johnny Moloney and then Diarmuid O'Kane touching down, but seven or eight players were involved in the scores.

The game started at a very slow pace with both sides looking very unsure in their play and patterns. Not surprising really when you consider that both sides lost last weekend and both went into the game missing key players and low on confidence.

The home side took the lead from a Richard Lane penalty in the seventh minute, before the visitors had three opportunities to first go level and then go ahead in the game. Unfortunately for them, their kicker Niall O'Connor struggled with his early efforts and missed all three kickable penalties in the 16th, 18th and 20th minutes. Harlequins should have been ahead at this stage, their play deserved it, but those misses summed up the season so far for the bottom side.

Con took advantage of these missed chances. First Moloney went over for a try in the 30th minute after great work by the backs created, then O'Kane found himself at the end of another great passing movement that involved six players and captain Frank Cogan twice, to touch down.

Lane converted and Con led 15-3, a scoreline that remained until half-time.

Tempers were a little frayed at the start of the second-half. First Harlequins hooker Ger Philpott was lucky to escape a yellow card from referee Alan Rogan for shoeing too close to a Con players head and two minutes later Colm Murphy and Harlequins' Brendan Lynch were yellow carded for throwing punches.

Normal service was resumed soon afterwards in the 58th minute when Con's Richard Lane added his second penalty of the afternoon to increase the lead to 18-3.

Harlequins took control following the introduction of Ulster player Paul McKensie, but could not put the points on the board. A verywell marshalled and disciplined Con defence refused to give away any penalties or, more importantly, points.

Then in injury time Ed Leamy broke clear of a tackle and touched down under the posts to rub even further salt into the visitors' wounds.

Lane converted to give the final score a rather flattering look for the home side.

CORK CONSTITUTION D Hurley; D O'Riordan, D O'Leary, D O'Kane, R Lane; C Quaid, P McKee; T Ryan, C Murphy, R Quinn;

M O'Connell, J Moloney; R Noonan, B Cuttriss, F Cogan Subs D Lyons for Quaid, E Leamy for Moloney, both half-time; D Murray for Quinn, 60 mins; V Soden for T Ryan, 68 mins BELFAST HARLEQUINS M Kettyle; G McLoughlan, D Cave, M McKeever, J Lowe; N O'Connor, R Kirkwood; N Conlon, G Philpott, B Lynch; G Rourke, M Graham; D Johnson, R Devonshire, C McCarey Subs J Reihana for McKeever, 36 mins; P McKensie for McLoughlin, 52 mins; B Hanley for Philpott, 70 mins; A Ward for Johnson, 74 mins.

Referee A Rogan (LAR)