Belfast Harlequins - 19 Ballymena - 0 After several seasons as the young pretenders, Belfast Harlequins have finally emerged as Ulster's leading side and will now carry the province's hopes into the Division One play-offs.
The Deramore Park side's convincing 19-0 victory against reigning champions Ballymena on Saturday clinched third place in the league and with it a semi-final meeting away to Shannon on May 1st.
Ballymena had gone into the game requiring a bonus-point victory to earn the opportunity of defending their title. But even the presence of Ulster regulars Adam Larkin and Shane Stewart made little difference and the defeat consigned them to fifth place.
Harlequins, in contrast to Ballymena and Ulster's third Division One representative, Dungannon, have long since severed their reliance on contracted players.
Instead, coach Andre Bester's emphasis has been on assembling and nurturing the city's best young talent, a production line that has proved fruitful for Ulster, with players of huge potential such as Roger Wilson, Neil Best, Reece Spee, Simon Shawe and Rory Best all gaining contracts since Bester's arrival three years ago.
Halequins have only had the services of one full-time contracted player all season in scrumhalf Spee, and the benefits of their self sufficiency were evident on Saturday as they displayed much more urgency, purpose and direction than Ballymena.
Playing into atrocious weather conditions in the first half, the lightweight Halequins pack punched well above their weight, destroying the visitors' scrum and pressuring their lineout. Larkin fluffed two penalty chances for Ballymena, who also saw Dirkie Strydom and Stewart go close with try-scoring opportunities.
But Halequins were well worth their 8-0 lead at the interval following a try by Willem Slabbert which he followed up with a huge penalty into the wind.
With the weather conditions in their favour after the restart, the home side shut the game out in ruthless fashion, with Slabbert landing two more penalties - the second another monstrous effort.
Spee completed the victory with his side's second try after Ballymena were reduced to 14 men after Stewart had been sent to the sin-bin.
"It was a massive team effort and it was won in our preparation," said Bester. "The whole year we have got our preparation spot on and everybody's feet are on the ground.
"We have the lightest pack in Ireland and one of the youngest teams around, our oldest player is only 25.
"These boys have worked so hard to get where they are right now and I am so proud of them. They have come so far this season. Three years ago this club had been relegated to Division Two. Now we are in the play-offs."
Halequins, who have won the Ulster Senior League for the second time in succession this season with another 100 per cent record, will have their work cut out if they are to secure a place in the final with victory over Shannon.
But even if they do not make it this time, the signs look promising for the Belfast club, even in these uncertain times for club rugby.
All Halequins' attention now are on the prize that would confirm their arrival on the big stage just five years after the club was formed from the merger of North of Ireland and Collegians.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 17mins: Slabbert try, 5-0; 24mins: Slabbert pen, 8-0; Half-time: 8-0; 42mins: Slabbert pen, 11-0; 52mins: Slabbert pen, 14-0; 57mins: Spee try, 19-0.
BELFAST HARLEQUINS: J Lowe; W Slabbert, S Wilson, G Mitchell, C Atkinson; J McClaughlin, R Spee; J Carey, R Best, S Shawe, L Stevenson, L Magowan, P Minnis, C McCarey. Replacements: S Lamb for Magowan (65 mins)
BALLYMENA: I Humphreys; D Strydom, S Stewart , H Jones, A Maxwell; A Larkin, P Spence ; S McConnell, S Rogers, B Young, D O'Kane, D Macartney, A Graham, J Taggart, M McComish. Replacements: I Caldwell for Macartney (38 mins), W McAllister for S MacConnell (60 mins), A Trimble for Stewart (62 mins), A Monson for Spence (63 mins).
Referee: A Roland (Leinster).
