Junior Rugby Roundup

Richmond won the top-of-the-table clash in Section A of the Munster Junior League to open up a six-point lead at the top of table.

Defending league champions Newcastle West lost their unbeaten record when they went down to Richmond 16-13 in a thrilling encounter at the Canal Bank. Once Newcastle West took the lead in the 12^th minute with a try from Sean Neville, which Shane Airey converted, they always looked in control, until Keith McCarthy snatched victory for the home side with a try in the final minutes.

Airey did have a chance to level with a last-minute penalty, but his effort was off target. Airey kicked two first-half penalties to give the visitors a 13-8 halftime lead. Evan O’Halloran scored a try for Richmond and Tadhg Bennett kicked a penalty. Bennett added a second penalty after the break and then saw another effort hit the post before McCarthy’s try preserved Richmond’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

Skibbereen lost their unbeaten record losing 18-7 away to St. Mary’s. Jazz Pendejito kicked six penalties for the Saints, and David Jennings replied with a try for Skibbereen which Rory Byrne converted.

Kilfeacle moved into fourth place with a 25-7 home win over Abbeyfeale. Cormac Ryan scored two tries for the winners and Cillian Noonan and Kevin Doyle got one each. Luke Heuston kicked a conversion and a penalty. Abbeyfeale replied with a penalty try.

A great opening half hour by Bandon that saw them race into a 24-7 lead, earned them the points with a 24-17 victory at home to Waterpark. Willie Walsh opened the scoring with a try and conversion for the visitors, but Bandon hit back with two tries from Ben Ridgeway and one by Tom Ferguson.

Ridgeway converted all three tries and also added a penalty. Waterpark hit back to earn their fourth losing bonus point with a try from Patrick Kiersey and a conversion and penalty by Walsh.

Mallow moved level with Bandon with a  26-10 home win over Crosshaven. Steve Finn scored a try for Mallow which Dave Cogan converted and they were also awarded a penalty try. Cogan kicked four penalties and Jack O’Connell replied for Crosshaven with a try conversion and a penalty.

Clanwilliam edged out Thomond in a thriller at Clanwilliam Park 28-27. Ben Downey and Edward Nolan were try scorers for Clanwilliam and they were also awarded a penalty try. Niall Leahy kicked two penalties and a conversion. Dave O’Brien and Luke Costello were among the Thomond try scorers, and Eoghan Sherlock kicked three conversions and two penalties.

Old Christians defeated Muskerry 14-6 and also qualified for the semi-finals of the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup. Two penalties from Rob Cahill to one by Conor Dolan had Muskerry leading 6-3 at halftime. Tadgh O’Brien added a try for Old Christians in the second half and Dolan kicked two further penalties.

Clonakilty moved off the foot of the table with a 21-7 home win over Thurles. Rory Fletcher and Johnny Hill scored tries for Clon’ and Eoin Downey kicked a conversion and three penalties. Matthew Kelly replied with a try for Thurles which  Paddy McCormack converted.

In Section B Fethard defeated Galbally-Mitchelstown 19-17 in their top-of-the-table clash at Galbally. Josef O’Connor and Richard Anglim scored tries for Fethard and O’Connor added three penalties. John Kerins and Pat O’Donoghue replied with tries for Galbally-Mitchelstown and Pat Shanahan converted both and also added a penalty.

St Senan’s moved into second place with a 24-12 home win over Youghal. Jordan Duggan, Fergal Lawlor, Billy Dunne, and Declan Collins scored tries for the Clare side. Declan Rowe kicked two conversions. Darragh O’Brien and Scott O’Sullivan replied with tries for Youghal and Aaron Daly kicked a conversion.

Cobh Pirates defeated Carrick-on-Suir 27-9 to move into third place. Ben Kennedy, Storm Le Roux, George Rasmussen, and Kevin Murphy scored tries for the Pirates. Rory Pierce kicked two conversions and a penalty. Fionn Barry replied with three penalties for the home side.

Fermoy defeated Scariff 25-13. Ben Twomey scored two tries, two conversions, and two penalties for the winners, and Francis John O’Flynn also scored a try. Scariff replied with tries from Bill Molloy and Jack Devaney. Jason Monaghan added one penalty.

Waterford City kept their promotion hopes alive with a 19-3 away win at Dungarvan. Haydon Casey scored two tries and two conversions for Waterford and Andrew Condron also added a try. Joey Doherty replied with a penalty for the home side.

Charleville and Kinsale made it three maximum point wins in Section C.

Charleville defeated Douglas 40-7. Jessie Smith scored two tries for Charleville, Mattie O’Neill, Keith Smith, and James Flynn got one each they were also awarded a penalty try. Keith Smith kicked four conversions. Ben O’Flynn replied with a try for Douglas and Padraig McSweeney converted.

Kinsale defeated Killarney 27-10. Paul Graham (2), Dan Graham, Evan Wrenne, and Ben O’Connor were Kinsale’s try scorers. Dylan lacey kicked one conversion. Alan Lynch, and Colin McCarthy replied with tries for Killarney.

Kanturk ended Tralee’s unbeaten run with a 31-22 home win. Brian O’Sullivan scored two tries for Kanturk and Stephen McAuliffe, and Michael Twohig got one each. McAuliffe kicked four conversions and a penalty. Tralee replied with tries from Mikey Lyne, Ben Glavin, and Sean Dowling, with Seamus Lynne kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Ballincollig defeated Killorglin 24-7 to move to within a point of the leaders. Matt Bourke, Cian Kilkenny, James McGlinchy, and Patrick Kelly scored tries for Ballincollig. Liam McGarry added two conversions. Jack Coffey replied with a try for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea converted.