LANSDOWNE barely beat Belfast Harlequins in a dour encounter on the back pitch in Lansdowne Road yesterday.

The first half became a stalemate between the two teams.

Neither side were able to break down their opposite numbers, but Harlequins always looked the more likely side to score.

The early tussles went between the forwards and although Harlequins' second row Lewis Stevenson and Keith Pyper almost combined for a try 10 minutes in, that was the sole hightlight of a dull scoreless first half.

Straight into the second half Harlequins were always taking the match to the home side but desperate defence, and a great kick by out-half Andrew Geraghty took the pressure off. Geraghty's kick created a chance in the Harlequins' half which ended with a clear cut penalty which Geraghty scored from the 22.

However, Harlequins hit back very shortly afterwards and a simple movement created a try finally scored by Mark Kettyle.

The match then went back into stalemate until Lansdowne stole the game when Gavin O'Meara crossed the line after serious pressure from a number of line-outs and subsequent mauls.

Quins' kept making a battle of it for the last few minutes but strong Lansdowne defence won the day.

LANSDOWNE M Ashford, A McCormack, N Walsh, R Dolan, J Coleman, A Geraghty, D Coughlan, J Lyne, K Corrigan, P Doran Jones, A Maher, D Toner, D Lavin (capt), V O'Dowd, S McCarthy Subs R Jones for Maher, J Meagher for Dolan, G O'Meara for Toner, S Whelan for Coughlan BELFAST HARLEQUINS F Kettyle, J Lowe, G Cave, K Pyper, G McLoughlin, N O'Connor, R Kirkwood, N Conlon, B Harney, J Andress, G Rourke, L Stevenson, C Atkinson, D Johnston, A Ward Sub M Graham for Pyper Referee O Trevor (Munster Branch)