Saturday Senior Rugby Round-Up

It was a dramatic final day across all four Divisions of the Ulster Bank League.

At Tom Clifford Park, Young Munster secured a place in the play-offs in Division 1A with a 15-5 win over leaders Lansdowne.

These sides will meet again in two weeks at the Aviva Stadium in the AIL semi-finals. A try by Paul Allen just before half time and converted by Gearoid Lyons had the home side 7-0 ahead at the interval. Winger Diarmaid McCarthy increased their lead with an opportunist try. Paul O’Driscoll kept Lansdowne in the game with a try midway through the half but a Lyons penalty put the game beyond the visitors.

A late penalty from Tomás Quinlan secured Cork Constitution a losing bonus point as they lost at home to UCD 10-3.

Dolphin who are already relegated lost their final game in the top flight to St. Mary’s College 45-18. The Dublin side led 14-13 at half time with Eamonn Mills and Niall Scannell scoring tries for the Cork side and Scannell kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Garryowen lost their top spot in Division 1B, when Galwegians defeated them 17-13 to claim automatic promotion.

Garryowen will now travel to St. Mary’s College in a play off in two weeks.

Two penalties by Jamie Gavin saw Garryowen lead 6-3 at half time but a conversion by Gavin of a try by Andrew O’Byrne was not enough to get them promoted.

UL Bohemian defeated Corinthians 24-19 at Thomond Park to finish their campaign with a bonus point victory.
The sides shared 38 points in the opening half as a try by Joe Murray in the second half decided the issue. Shane Airey scored two first half tries, both of which he converted and Joe Moloney also scored a try.

Despite trailing 29-13 to Malone at half time, a second half comeback by Shannon just fell short at Gibson Park as the Limerick side went down 37-34. Declan Moloney, Hugh Kelliher, Simon Malone and David O'Donovan scored tries for Shannon all of which O’Donovan converted and he also added two penalties.

In Division 2A, both Nenagh Ormond and U.C.C. avoided relegation to Division 2B.

Nenagh Ormond defeated Rainey Old Boys 26-14 while at the Mardyke UCC and Blackrock College played out a 15-15 draw. Kevin Kidney and Ben Mitchell scored tries for College and Kidney kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Cashel finished their campaign with a 15-10 home win over Skerries. The visitors led 10-0 at half time but tries from Michael Kelly and Pat O’Connor and a conversion and penalty by O’Connor saw Cashel take the spoils.

Thomond lost at home to Naas 16-11. Cian Coady scored a try for Thomond and Rory Collins kicked two penalties.

2B champions Highfield lost their unbeaten record at Irish Independent Park, when Sunday’s Well defeated them 13-10. Peter Arigho scored a try for the ‘Well and Shane O’Riordan kicked a conversion and two penalties. Paul Stack replied with a try for Highfield and Paddy O’Toole kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Richmond despite beating Kanturk 21-12 are relegated to Junior rugby. Richmond were awarded two penalty tries and one by Gearoid Phelan. Wayne Murphy kicked two conversions and Stephen Clancy one. Michael Daly and Calvin Noonan replied with tries for Kanturk and Paul O’Keeffe kicked one conversion.

Bruff lost at home to Boyne 27-12. David Horan and Mark Cosgrave were try scorers for Bruff and Paul Downes kicked a conversion.

Old Crescent were defeated at home 24-22 by Navan. Alan Barry, Kevin Meade, Sean Monaghan and Sean McGee scored tries for the Rosbrien side and Shane O’Brien kicked a conversion.

Midleton lost 27-21 to Wanderers at Merrion Road.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Ballynahinch 18, Clontarf 33;
Cork Constitution 3, U.C.D. 10;
Old Belvedere 18, Terenure College 8;
St Mary's College 45, Dolphin 18;
Young Munster 15, Lansdowne 5;

Division 1B: Ballymena 45, Buccaneers 0;
Dublin University 41, Belfast Harlequins 20;
Galwegians 17, Garryowen 13;
Malone 37, Shannon 34;
U.L. Bohemian 24, Corinthians 19;

Division 2A: Banbridge 29, Old Wesley 24;
Cashel 15, Skerries 10;
Dungannon 37, Bective Rangers 28;
Nenagh Ormond 26, Rainey Old Boys 14;
Queens University 55, N.U.I.M. Barnhall 26;
Seapoint 12, City of Derry 27;
Thomond 11, Naas 16;
U.C.C. 15, Blackrock College 15;

Division 2B: Bruff 12, Boyne 27;
D.L.S.P. 41, Ards 0;
Old Crescent 22, Navan 24;
Richmond 21, Kanturk 12;
Sligo 7, Greystones 3;
Sunday's Well 13, Highfield 10;
Tullamore 0, City of Armagh 21;
Wanderers 27, Midleton 21;