Harlequins keep hopes alive

Rugby: They may be saying adieu to coach Andre Bester at the end of the season, but Belfast Harlequins kept their play-off aspirations on track by eking out a win at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The South African announced his proposed move to English Division One side Rotherham Titans last week. Bester called for a native to replace him, as opposed to their Ulster rivals Ballymena who drafted in Steph Nel in mid-season - another South Africa, albeit the former Connacht coach - after no home-grown candidates applied for the job.

Plenty of names will be thrown into the equation in the months ahead, but there was one notable spectator on Saturday in Harry Williams, the Ulster coach in 1999 when they won the European Cup, and also a former Lansdowne coach.

Some opted to stay by the clubhouse fire as the match was switched to the main stadium because of a waterlogged back pitch. It did little to enliven proceedings as a dour affair was decided by a try and two penalties from WP Strauss.

Lansdowne's hard-working pack did an effective job, but a combination of the wind, rain and a lack of cutting thrust out wide ensured their endeavours were only rewarded by three Andy Tallon penalties.

Lansdowne dropped to bottom of the table after County Carlow registered just their second victory of the campaign, over Dungannon at Oak Park. The old warhorses made the vital contributions here, with Andy Melville claiming one of two tries to go with a 16-point haul from Richie Murphy.

Shannon moved into pole position with an impressive victory, and bonus point, away to Ballymena, although two late tries from Matt Waterhouse and Andrew Trimble ensured a point for Ballymena. Nel's team remain perilously close to the relegation zone - presuming relegation actually occurs, as plans remain afoot for a remodelled league in 2005/'06.

Like Ballymena, Cork Constitution's season isn't going as planned. Con will rue the postponement of their match with Dublin University at College Park, as they had a number of interprovincial players available because Munster had no game.

Garryowen stayed in their Limerick rivals' slipstream with an impressive away result against Buccaneers, the only disappointment being they stay a point adrift of Shannon after failing to earn a bonus point.

Clontarf tumbled to third in the table after they were surprisingly overturned by Blackrock College at Castle Avenue. Stephen McIvor's men led 13-5 at the turn after Shane Madigan touched down to cancel out a Marc Hewitt try, while Conor Kilroy landed two penalties and a conversion. Despite a massive wind advantage, Clontarf were unable to add to Darragh O'Shea's penalty as Blackrock hung on for a first away win of the season.

Victory ensured they are not bottom of the table while Clontarf are no longer top.