SPORT IN BRIEF
Belvedere’s great escape
RUGBY: Old Belvedere pulled off the great escape to maintain their top-flight status at Angelsea Road, as an 18-point haul from rising star Josh Glynn gave them a memorable 18-15 victory over Belfast Harlequins in an absorbing Ulster Bank League Division 1A Promotion/Relegation Play-Off.
Belvo had finished their Division 1A campaign in fine style but Harlequins fully merited their place in this tie, and they raced into an early lead when out-half Stuart Olding raced through a number of challenges, before touching down underneath the posts.
Scrum-half Ian Porter, who has featured for Brian McLaughlin’s Ulster, was on hand to slot over the conversion to give the Belfast men a dream start. However, last year’s champions soon settled thanks to a penalty from winger Josh Glynn 11 minutes in. Indeed, Belvo’s No 14 would add to his tally with a well-taken try in the right corner just three minutes later, after excellent approach play by No 8 Jack Conan and Danny Riordan.
An expert conversion by Glynn gave them a three-point advantage (10-7) with 15 minutes gone. Their advantage would be cancelled out by a successful Porter penalty on 29 minutes, and the sides on level terms heading into the second half.
Belvo restored their advantage on the hour mark thanks to a second penalty from the accurate Glynn. Porter had a chance to wipe out Belvo’s cushion with a penalty five minutes later, but he came up short with his kick, a missed opportunity that he was left rue, as Glynn got in for his second five-pointer on 67 minutes after Riordan’s kick from distance had bounced kindly into his direction.
This unconverted score looked like being enough to save Belvo, but a 77th minute try from Harlequins prop Adam Macklin threw a spanner in the works. Porter’s narrow conversion miss meant extra-time loomed, but Old Belvedere held on, much to the relief of their loyal support base.