Ulster Bank League Division 1A
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 15 CORK CONSTITUTION 26, Templeville Road
It was a day to forget for St. Mary’s College as they suffered their second home loss of the season, going down 26-15 to a resurgent Cork Constitution side.
Darragh Lyons showed his class once more, guiding a youthful Con back-line and proving an able deputy for the injured Gerry Hurley as captain and out-half.
Lyons had Andrew Dorgan – one of last season’s All-Ireland Under-20 winners – alongside him at half-back and they engineered an early lead for the Leesiders thanks to tries from wingers Michael Keyes and Rob Jermyn.
Lyons’ right boot did the rest, opening up a 17-3 gap before a late try from converted flanker Richie Sweeney gave St. Mary’s some momentum at the break.
Just as he did in last week’s success at Old Belvedere, promising youngster Nick Timoney made an impact off the bench but he lacked support as Mary’s looked set to score a second try.
As the penalties continued to mount against Peter Smyth’s charges, Constitution took chance after chance as the reliable Lyons strung together a hat-trick of second half place-kicks.
That left the hosts 26-10 adrift and a classy try from Dave Fanagan, one of the best Mary’s backs on display, was mere consolation for the home side.
Scorers
St. Mary’s College: Tries: Richie Sweeney, Dave Fanagan; Con: Gavin Dunne; Pen: Gavin Dunne.
Cork Constitution: Tries: Michael Keyes, Rob Jermyn; Cons: Darragh Lyons 2; Pens: Darragh Lyons 4
BALLYNAHINCH 14 LANSDOWNE 10, Ballymacarn Park
The surprise result of the day in the top flight saw Ballynahinch end Lansdowne’s winning start to the season with a 14-10 defeat at Ballymacarn Park.
Despite missing some regulars due to Leinster ‘A’ call-ups, Mike Ruddock’s men were expected to beat the County Down outfit and make it four wins on the trot.
However, a bruising first 40 minutes saw the usually reliable Scott Deasy miss three penalties for Lansdowne and it remained scoreless for half-time.
Ballynahinch number 8 Charlie Butterworth, who left Lansdowne in the summer after signing a one-year professional deal with Ulster, clearly relished the opportunity to face his former club.
His opposite number, Lansdowne captain Ron Boucher, broke through for a 60th minute try to cancel out a converted effort from returning ‘Hinch full-back Rodger McBurney ten minutes earlier.
Deasy found his range again with a successful conversion and then a penalty in the 71st minute which had the visitors in front for the first time (10-7).
However, the strong-running McBurney had the final say with a 73rd minute try converted by Richard Reaney, with the hard-fought victory moving ‘Hinch up two places to sixth overall.
Scorers
Ballynahinch:
Tries: Rodger McBurney 2; Cons: Harry McAleese, Richard Reaney
Lansdowne:
Try: Ron Boucher; Con: Scott Deasy; Pen: Scott Deasy
DOLPHIN 0 TERENURE COLLEGE 47, Musgrave Park
Terenure College were in seventh heaven at Musgrave Park as they enjoyed their second successive bonus point victory over Munster opposition – a runaway 47-0 thrashing of Dolphin.
Terenure followed up last week’s 42-0 home hammering of Young Munster by breaking the 40-point barrier again with seven tries in all – including a hat-trick from fleet-footed winger Harry Moore.
With Lansdowne losing at Ballynahinch, James Blaney’s men are now four points clear at the top of Division 1A ahead of a four-week break in Ulster Bank League fixtures.
The dominant Dubliners showed no mercy to struggling bottom side Dolphin who had an uphill task by half-time, trailing 21-0.
The elusive Moore notched his hat-trick in 60 minutes, taking his haul to five in four league games, while influential number 8 Kyle McCoy is just one behind him following a well-taken brace in Cork.
Dolphin assistant coach Barry Keeshan missed a 20th minute penalty, but their scoring chances were few and far between with efforts from Moore (12 and 27 minutes) and McCoy – late on in the first half – putting ‘Nure on course for another big win.
Even McCoy’s sin-binning in the 53rd minute failed to stop the flow of scoring from the visitors as Moore nabbed their bonus point right on the hour mark. McCoy returned to touch down in the 75th minute and late scores from replacement James Thornton and scrum half Kevin O’Neill completed the rout.
Scorers
Dolphin: -
Terenure College:
Tries: Harry Moore 3, Kyle McCoy 2, James Thornton, Kevin O’Neill;
Cons: Mark O’Neill 5, James Thornton
YOUNG MUNSTER 26 OLD BELVEDERE 19, Tom Clifford Park
Young Munster put last Saturday’s nightmare result at Terenure behind them by overcoming Old Belvedere 26-19 in a thrilling contest at Tom Clifford Park.
Both sides had a player sin-binned at different stages and the lead changed a number of times after the Cookies turned around 10-8 to the good.
Full-back Daniel Riordan ensured Old Belvedere made a flying start, racing through to touch down in the third minute after he had kicked over the defence.
Riordan’s opposite number Ben Martin responded with a penalty but, in the 27th minute, a penalty from Josh Glynn made it 8-3 after Munsters scrum half Rob Guerin was yellow carded.
The former Shannon player was no sooner back in the action when he crossed for the Cookies’ opening try. Number 8 Yasin Browne stole a ‘Belvo lineout and Guerin touched down sufficiently close for Martin to convert and put John Staunton’s side in front at 10-8.
It took Riordan only two minutes of the second period to run in his second try and a Glynn penalty in the 58th minute had the Dubliner 4 club 16-10 ahead.
A splendidly-taken try by left winger Derry O’Connor, which Martin converted, edged Munsters back in front – only for Glynn to land his third penalty soon after.
However, two late penalties from the impressive Martin clinched a galvanising second league victory for the hosts who are now looking more comfortable in seventh place.
Scorers:
Young Munster:
Tries: Rob Guerin, Derry O’Connor; Cons: Ben Martin 2; Pens: Ben Martin 4
Old Belvedere:
Tries: Daniel Riordan 2; Pens: Josh Glynn 3
Ulster Bank League Division 1B
BELFAST HARLEQUINS 13 GARRYOWEN 24, Deramore Park
Garryowen finished the first four-week run of matches with their third win, a 24-13 success away to Belfast Harlequins.
Head coach Conan Doyle featured at inside centre as the Light Blues built a 14-8 interval lead courtesy of three Jamie Gavin penalties and a Neil Cronin try.
In breezy conditions, ‘Quins replied with an unconverted score from full-back David McMaster to make it a one-point game.
The visitors produced the stronger finish though to stay third in the table. Out-half Gavin kicked another penalty and converted an injury-time try from replacement prop Ben Rowley.
Garryowen’s arch rivals Shannon lifted their spirits with a much-needed 30-7 bonus point triumph away to out-of-sorts Corinthians.
Ian Sherwin’s young side have been something of a ‘second half team’ of late, but at Corinthian Park Shannon put together their most complete performance of the season to date.
A converted try from captain John Shine, on the stroke of half-time, had the visitors leading 13-7 and they kicked on over the closing 40 minutes with three more tries.
Number 8 Lee Nicholas scored the second from a close-in scrum and quick passing released left winger Stephen Fitzgerald for a 78th minute score. The bonus point followed from Greg O’Shea in injury-time.
Scorers
Belfast Harlequins:
Tries: Ricky Lutton, David McMaster;
Drop: Mark Best
Garryowen:
Tries: Neil Cronin, Ben Rowley; Con: Jamie Gavin;
Pens: Jamie Gavin 4
BUCCANEERS 25 GALWEGIANS 29, Dubarry Park
Galwegians’ stirring second half fight-back denied Buccaneers the Connacht derby spoils in Division 1B’s match of the day at Dubarry Park.
The league leaders came from 22 points down to win 29-25 in a dramatic finish in Athlone, with winger Colin Conroy claiming the match-winning try.
Galwegians looked in all sorts of trouble as three tries, coupled with centre Brian Murphy’s sin-binning, had Buccs 22-0 in front approaching half-time.
With the wind at their backs, the Pirates punctured a poor ‘Wegians defence with number 8 Luke Satchwell and full-back Eoghan O’Reilly both touching down inside 14 minutes.
O’Reilly’s opposite number John Cleary then misjudged a bouncing ball to allow Billy Henshaw pick off a 32nd minute try. Murphy entered the sin two minutes later with Alan Gaughan converting the resulting penalty.
However, scrum half Barry Lee threw a lovely reverse pass to send former captain Brian ‘Beano’ McClearn over for a late try before the interval which got the visitors off the mark.
The third quarter was particularly scrappy with yellow cards for Buccaneers duo Mark Dolan and Kolo Kiripati along with ‘Wegians replacement Doron McHugh.
Gradually, the visitors’ bench began to have a say with Aidan Moynihan scoring a five-pointer and Conor Lowndes adding the extras to a 64th minute effort from McHugh.
Suddenly, Matt Brown’s wind-backed side were back in touch at 22-15 but the game took another twist when McHugh was flashed a second yellow card for a high tackle.
An injury to Galwegians skipper Ja Naughton led to uncontested scrums before Lowndes – the talented Connacht Under-20 scrum half – converted his own try to make it 22-all.
In a tense finale, Gaughan booted Buccaneers back in front but Conroy’s injury-time try, converted by Lowndes, saw unbeaten ‘Wegians pinch it right at the death.
Scorers
Buccaneers:
Tries: Luke Satchwell, Eoghan O’Reilly, Billy Henshaw; Cons: Alan Gaughan 2;
Pens: Alan Gaughan 2
Galwegians:
Tries: Brian McClearn, Colin Conroy, Doron McHugh, Conor Lowndes; Cons: Conor Lowndes 3;
Pen: Aidan Moynihan
CORINTHIANS 7 SHANNON 30, Corinthian Park
Shannon lifted their spirits with a much-needed 30-7 bonus point triumph away to out-of-sorts Corinthians.
Ian Sherwin’s young side have been something of a ‘second half team’ of late, but at Corinthian Park Shannon put together their most complete performance of the season to date.
A converted try from captain John Shine, on the stroke of half-time, had the visitors leading 13-7 and they kicked on over the closing 40 minutes with three more tries.
Number 8 Lee Nicholas scored the second from a close-in scrum and quick passing released left winger Stephen Fitzgerald for a 78th minute score. The bonus point followed from Greg O’Shea in injury-time.
Scorers:
Corinthians:
Try: Conor Murphy; Con: Conor Murphy
Shannon:
Tries: John Shine, Lee Nicholas, Stephen Fitzgerald, Greg O’Shea; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 2.
Pens: Tadhg Bennett 2
UL BOHEMIANS 23 BALLYMENA 30, Thomond Park back pitch
Second-placed Ballymena secured their fourth victory on the trot by edging out UL Bohemians on a 30-23 scoreline at Thomond Park.
The Braidmen opened an 8-0 lead thanks to a James Beattie try and Richie McMaster penalty. A Rory White helped UL close the gap to 11-10 and out-half Shane Airey had Bohs leading 13-11 early in the second half.
Crucially though, Ballymena soon took total control thanks to tries from Martin Irwin and Jordan Foster – the second of which McMaster converted.
Bohs responded with an Airey penalty, but it was man-of-the-match McMaster who clinched it for Andy Graham’s men with a try that he converted himself. Near the end, prop Vinny O’Regan touched down to salvage a bonus point for the Limerick side.
Scorers
UL Bohemians:
Tries: Rory White, Vinny O’Regan; Cons: Shane Airey 2;
Pens: Shane Airey 3
Ballymena:
Tries: James Beattie, Ritchie McMaster, Martin Irwin, Jordan Foster; Cons: Ritchie McMaster 2;
Pens: Ritchie McMaster 2
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 26 MALONE 17, College Park
Dublin University were back at their spiritual home on Saturday afternoon, playing on the new College Park pitch, and they marked their return with a well-judged 26-17 win over Malone.
It was Trinity’s first victory of the season and owed much to the place-kicking accuracy of Conor Kearns and Jack McDermott, who both kicked two penalties with the latter also scoring a try and two conversions.
Excellent out-half McDermott and flanker Brian du Toit scored second half tries for the students as they recovered from a 7-6 half-time deficit, watched by a partisan home crowd.
Rory Campbell – making the switch from full-back to the left wing this week – took his try haul for the campaign to four, but it was not enough to prevent Malone from slipping to their third straight loss.
Scorers:
Dublin University:
Tries: Brian du Toit, Jack McDermott; Cons: Jack McDermott 2;
Pens: Conor Kearns 2, Jack McDermott 2
Malone:
Tries: Michael Ferguson, Rory Campbell; Cons: Josh Pentland 2;
Pen: Josh Pentland
Great to see some grass roots rugby coverage. Well done to Terenure. 27? League game wins in a row.
Terenure have Clontarf up next, that should be an interesting test for them. A lot of teams suffer when A fixtures are on same weekend, this is especially the case for dolphin & UCD.