Saturday Senior Rugby Round-Up

It was a bad start for the majority of Munster Senior clubs in the opening round of the Ulster Bank League as only five of the 16 sides won.

In Division 1A Cork Constitution were the only winners as they travelled to St Mary’s College and defeated the Templeville Road side 20-16. Rob Jermyn, Liam O’Connell and Niall Kenneally scored tries for Con’ and Tomas Quinlan added a conversion and a penalty.

Old Belvedere snatched a dramatic injury time win after a superb contest at Tom Clifford Park defeating Young Munster 36-35. The home side had the benefit of Munster star Robin Copeland in their back row and they made a great start with a try after two minutes by Dan Walsh which Paul Downes converted.

Old Belvedere led 15-13 at half-time with Downes adding two penalties for the home side. A Darren Ryan try and Downes conversion put the home side in front. Walsh and Robert Guerin added further tries for the Cookies and Downes kicked a conversion and a penalty. Willie Staunton kicked 16 points against his former club.

When Lansdowne led 29-10 after 50 minutes and then Garryowen had their best player Neil Cronin sent to the bin it looked ominous for the home side, yet the hosts struggled back to earn a losing bonus point in a 32-26 defeat at Dooradoyle.

Hugh O'Brien Cunningham, Johnny Keane and David Johnson scored tries for Garryowen and Cronin kicked two conversions and two penalties.

U.L. Bohemian made a great start in Division 1B, defeating Dolphin 41-10 at Irish Independent Park.
The visitors led 19-3 at half-time and had tries from Harry Fleming, Cathal Sheridan, Rick McKenna, Finbar Aherne, Jamie McNamara and Cian Ahern. McKenna kicked four conversions and a penalty. Cameron O’Shaughnessy replied with a try for Dolphin and Cillian Monaghan added a conversion and a penalty.

UCC lost at home to Old Wesley 23-20. Two yellow cards in the second half proved costly for the students. Conor Barry and Peter McCabe scored tries for College and Kevin O’Keeffe converted both and also added two penalties.

Highfield made a winning start in Division 2A defeating Queen’s University 16-13 with a late try from Peter O’Toole who also kicked a conversion and four penalties.

Nenagh Ormond made a great start with an 18-17 away win over Belfast Harlequins. Eathon Moloney, Cronan Gleeson and Willie Coffey scored ties for the Tipperary side and Clayton Stewart added three penalties and two conversions.

Cashel lost at home to Malone 21-13. Josh Pickering was Cashel’s try scorer and Conor Holland kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Sunday’s Well were beaten 41-12 at Rifle Park. Greg Higgins scored two late tries for the visitors and Shane O’Riordan converted one of the tries.

Both Limerick sides lost in Division 2B. Old Crescent were beaten 19-3 at home to Greystones. Shane O’Brien gave the home side an early lead with a penalty.

Thomond were defeated by Wanderers at the Aviva Stadium 54-21. Jamie McGarry and Gary Bateman scored tries for Thomond and Dermot Fitzgerald kicked a conversion and a three penalties.

Midleton won the Cork derby defeating Kanturk 30-9. Sean White, Aidan McCarthy, Paul Daly and Luke Morrissey were Midleton’s try scorers. Daly kicked two conversions and two penalties. Conor Cremin replied with three penalties for the visitors.

Bruff were defeated 24-19 by Boyne at the Co. Louth venue. Cillian Rea, Mark Cosgrave and John Hogan scored tries for Bruff and David O’Grady added two conversions.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Garryowen 25, Lansdowne 32;
St. Mary's College 16, Cork Constitution 20;
Terenure College 18, Dublin University 25;
UCD 20, Clontarf 22;
Young Munster 35, Old Belvedere 36;

Division 1B: Ballynahinch 35, Buccaneers 13;
Dolphin 10, U.L. Bohemian 41;
Naas 18, Galwegians 13;
Shannon 19, Ballymena 25;
U.C.C. 20, Old Wesley 23;

Division 2A: Banbridge 41, Sunday's Well 12;
Belfast Harlequins 17, Nenagh Ormond 28;
Blackrock College 20, Galway Corinthians 13;
Cashel 13, Malone 21;
Highfield 16, Queen's University 13;

Division 2B: Bective Rangers 14, City of Armagh 30;
City of Derry 15, Skerries 32;
Dungannon 20, MU Barnhall 15;
Old Crescent 3, Greystones 19;
Wanderers 54, Thomond 21;

Division 2C: Bangor 18, Rainey Old Boys 24;
Boyne 24, Bruff 19;
Midleton 30, Kanturk 9;
Seapoint 22, Tullamore 18;
Sligo 22, Navan 26;