Saturday Senior Rugby Round-Up

Dolphin lost at home to St. Mary’s College in their bottom of the table clash in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League, while a bonus point win for Ballymena sees them move into second place in Division 1B ahead of Garryowen.

At Irish Independent Park, St. Mary’s had to come from behind to beat Dolphin in their basement clash in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League. Three penalties in the opening eleven minutes from Gavin Dunne gave Mary’s a 9-7 interval lead with Rory Scannell scoring a try for Dolphin and Barry Keeshan converted. A penalty from Keeshan had the home side ahead three minutes into the second half, but a try from Ritchie Sweeney and a conversion by Dunne had the visitors back in front. Ryan Murphy scored a second try for Dolphin but the visitors finished the stronger.

In Division 1B, Ballymena moved back into second place with a bonus point 43-15 home win over Shannon. David O’Donovan and Lee Nicholas scored tries for Shannon and Tadhg Bennett kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Garryowen defeated Malone16-12 at Gibson Park but it was not enough to hold on to second place. Alex Wooton and Josh Hrstich scored first half tries and Jamie Gavin added two penalties after the break.

A try in the last minute gave Buccaneers a 21-16 victory at Thomond Park against UL Bohemian who had battled back from a 3-9 halftime deficit to be in front 16-14 after 77 minutes. It looked like an overdue win for the home side who tightened up on earlier indiscipline which cost them nine points with Ross Kellar landing all three strikes for Buccaneers. Matters got worse for the home side when prop Jacob Walsh touched down after a rolling maul but it was too far out for Kellar to convert. A terrific try by Rory White who raced in from the 22 got UL Bohemian back in contention and Shane Airey converted to leave only a point between them. When Airey landed penalties in the 59th and 77th minutes it looked like the home side were back to winning ways. But in the final action fullback Sean Leyden punished a tiring defence and Kellar converted.

RESULTS
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf 27, Ballynahinch 16;
Dolphin 18, St Mary's College 27;
Terenure College 34, Old Belvedere 27;

Division 1B: Ballymena 43, Shannon 15;
Dublin University 31, Corinthians 13;
Galwegians , Belfast Harlequins 19;
Malone 12, Garryowen 16;
U.L. Bohemian 16, Buccaneers 21;