In cold and wet conditions, but with relatively little wind advantage for either side, Harlequins got the game underway. Both sides started positively but the first score came just 2 minutes into the game when Harlequins winger Mark Glover took a high Bangor kick and called for the mark. Being just outside his twenty two, this wasn’t given, but the Bangor players seemed to stop, allowing Glover to recover himself then sprint through a bewildered Bangor defence to score. As if this wasn’t bad enough for Bangor, Harlequins immediately exploited their visitors’ apparent lack of composure to score again through Mark Wylie, with Ben Sloan adding the extras to put the home side ahead by 12-0 after just 4 minutes.

If Harlequins thought this was to be the format for the remainder of the game, they were to be disappointed. Bangor managed to regroup and start to play themselves back into the game, with the forwards confirming their authority in the set pieces, particularly in the scrums where they repeatedly disrupted their opponents (which included Ulster prop Adam Macklin) and turned over possession as a result. Bangor began to show promise through their backs as well, but with their opponents repeatedly conceding penalties for offside offences, any meaningful attacks were stopped short. This spoiling play was compounded by some rash tackles that went unpunished by a remarkably lenient referee. However, Harlequins had the final say in the first half when, on 37 minutes, a well worked catch and drive from 5 metres out resulted in a try for David Dass, bringing the half time score to 19-0.

Things didn’t get any better for Bangor at the start of the second half when Harlequins scored their best try of the game, a flowing move finished off again by Glover, giving them a 24-0 lead. However, once more Bangor fought back and took advantage of what was either complacency or fatigue on the part of the home side. Bangor’s first try was scored by Mike Aspley who ran through a weak Harlequins defence to touch down close to the posts. Mark Widdowson added the conversion by way of a remarkably relaxed drop kick. Good use of the bench helped to maintain Bangor’s forward momentum, with good breaks coming through Mike Weir, Phil Broderick and Dave Lynn. This pressure eventually led to a yellow card for one of the Harlequins players after spoiling yet another good Bangor attack, close to the Harlequins line. Justice was handed down when Curtis Stewart drove over from the 5 metre penalty, to reduce the lead to 24-12, with 10 minutes remaining.

Although Bangor kept up the pressure, they were unable to add to their score, and were perhaps left wondering how the game might have unfolded but for those disastrous opening minutes where they conceded 12 cheap points. Nonetheless, given their ongoing injury problems and difficult run of fixtures against opposition from higher leagues, recent performances have shown signs of positive improvement. With the prospect of some key players returning from injury over the coming weeks, and the desire to kick-start the second half of the AIL competition, this should stand them in good stead as they prepare to face Sligo at Upritchard Park on Saturday 21st January. The players and spectators alike are still smarting from the heavy defeat at Sligo in December, and will be determined the result is different this time around.

Bangor team: P Whyte (c), A Jackson, J Leary, M Nesbitt, J Stewart, C Burton, M Aspley, D Lynn, A Lockhart, G Millar, A McCusker, T Ferguson, R Gamble, M Widdowson, P Broderick

Subs: C Piper, E Wellard-McMillan, C Stewart, M Weir, J Morgan

Scorers: M Aspley (1T), C Stewart (1T), M Widdowson (1C)