Belfast Harlequins provided added momentum to the drive to avoid relegation by overcoming Clontarf at Ormeau on Saturday.

But they received an unexpected helping hand from their opponents, breaching the fragile visitors' defence twice for crucial second-half tries that effectively secured their success.

Harlequins scrummaged strongly and were busy in the loose, with Clontarf restricted to spasmodic raids.

Harlequins took an early lead from a Paul Hancock penalty to which Clontarf promptly responded with a similar score from David O'Brien.

It was Hancock who fired the home side ahead again with a second penalty and then had a helping hand in his side's first try. A quick thrust on the right flank led to Niall Malone scampering across the Clontarf line with Hancock converting.

Clontarf battled gamely and when O'Brien landed a penalty, he kept his side very much in contention.

A further penalty from O'Brien just after the break helped to sustain the visitors' momentum; but the wheels fell off their wagon shortly afterwards.

Ross Weir darted clear of a disorganised defence to touch down for Hancock to convert and in the 68th minute Simon Dick emphasised Harlequins' superiority when he chased a loose ball, gathered smartly and swooped for a decisive try to which Hancock added the points to give Harlequins a commanding 27-9 lead.

Clontarf refused to throw in the towel and when fullback Kevin Nowlan ran in for a try, which O'Brien converted, it looked set for a grandstand finish.

It was Harlequins, though, who had the final say when substitute Mark Crothers barged his way over for an injury-time try that earned a deserved bonus point.

Harlequins are not out of the relegation woods yet; but they have now received an added boost in their ongoing fight for survival.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS: N Malone; A Park, S Coulter, S Dick, R Morrow; P Hancock, D Spence; C Keown, R Weir, C Boyd, K Rabie, D Irwin, C Galway, G O'Loan, N Best. Replacements: M Crothers for Weir.

CLONTARF: K Nowlan; A Reddan, D Rossi, J Downey, O winchester; D O'Brien, R O'Reilly; T Kearns, W O'Kelly, P McQuillan, G Flynn, B Gissing, B Baggott, D Moore, A Cullen.

Referee: T Redmond (Leinster).