Saturday Senior Rugby Roundup

Highfield clinched Division 2B Ulster Bank League title with late rally as Kanturk avoided the relegation playoff in Division 2C with win over Wanderers.

The big surprise was at Woodleigh Park where three injury time tries saw Highfield pip City of Derry for the Division 2B title on point’s difference after their 59-7 home win over Bective Rangers.
Highfield started the day a point behind Derry and trailed them by twenty five points on point’s difference. They led 19-7 at half time and entering injury time they were 38-7 ahead and while level on points with Derry they had an eleven point inferior point’s difference.
Tries by Fintan O’Sullivan, Kevin Foyle and John McLoughlin all converted by Paddy O’Toole gave Highfield an unexpected second successive league title.
Miah Cronin (2), McLoughlin, Ben Murphy, Paul Stack and a penalty try were their other try scorers. O’Toole kicked seven conversions in all.

Sunday’s Well who led Greystones 21-0 at half time with wind advantage lost 24-21 at the Co. Wicklow venue. John Moynihan (2) and Michael Moynihan one were the ‘Well try scorers and Shane O’Riordan converted all three.

In Division 1A Cork Constitution remain in third place after their 15-10 away win over Lansdowne at the Aviva Stadium back pitch.
Aaron Spring and Tomas Quinlan scored tries for Con’ and Quinlan added a conversion and a penalty.

In Division 1B there was no change at the bottom with Shannon, Dolphin, UL Bohemian and Blackrock all battling to avoid the relegation play off place with one series of games to play.

Dolphin caused a big shock with a 23-22 away win over Ballymena. Daryl Foley and Rob O’Sullivan scored tries for Dolphin and Barry Keeshan kicked two conversions and three penalties.

Shannon were dragged back into the relegation battle after their 21-19 away defeat by Blackrock College. Greg O’Shea scored two tries for Shannon and Tadhg Bennett kicked two penalties and Ronan McKenna one.

UL Bohemian must be wondering why they did not manage to play as well all season as they did at Annacotty when they were far too strong for bottom club; Belfast Harlequins after their 34-0 win.
In front 22-0 at halftime thanks to tries by Rory Whyte, Colin Ryan and Rick McKenna, who converted two of the tries and also landed a penalty.
Cian Ahern and Noel Kinnane added further tries to secure the bonus point for the home side and McKenna converted one.

There were three Munster sides battling for the last two promotion spots in Division 2A and it was U.C.C. and Cashel who secured those places.

U.C.C. ended Nenagh Ormond’s hopes with a 13-0 win at the Mardyke. Paul Kiernan scored a try for the Students and Kevin O’Keeffe converted and added two penalties.

Cashel secured the other spot with a 31-5 home win over already relegated Thomond. Michael Cross and Aidan Barron scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Eamon Connolly got one. Pat O’Connor kicked three conversions.

Bruff defeated Dundalk 34-25 in Division 2C and relegated the Co Louth side back to Junior rugby.
J O’Grady and Mark Cosgrove each scored two tries for Bruff and David O’Grady and S Breen got one each. Declan Barron kicked two conversions.

Champions Old Crescent defeated runners up Tullamore 34-29 at Rosbrien. Brendan Guilfoyle got two tries for the winners. Padraig Quinn and Barry Neville scored a try each. Shane O’Brien kicked four conversions and a drop goal and Neville added a penalty.

Midleton lost at home to Boyne 22-21. Michael Sinclair, Stuart Lee and Louis Farnham scored tries for Midleton and Lee converted all three.

Kanturk retained their senior status with a 23-10 away win over Wanderers. A try from Dan McCabe and a penalty try along with two conversions and three penalties from Mark Healy were Kanturk’s scorers.

The Play off line ups in the various Divisions are –
Division 2A: Second last Division 1B v Cashel;
Banbridge v UCC;
Division 2B: Skerries v Greystones;
City of Derry v Sunday’s Well;
Division 2C: Rainey Old Boys v Wanderers;
Tullamore v Bruff;
Ties to be played 16^th April.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Galwegians 10, Terenure College 14;
Garryowen 8, Young Munster 14;
Lansdowne 13, Cork Constitution 15;
Old Belvedere 21, Clontarf 27;
UCD 10, Ballynahinch 15;

Division 1B: Ballymena 22, Dolphin 23;
Blackrock College 21, Shannon 19;
Buccaneers 25, Old Wesley 9;
St. Mary's College 9, Dublin University 5;
UL Bohemian 34, Belfast Harlequins 0;

Division 2A: Banbridge 16, Malone 10;
Cashel 31, Thomond 5;
Naas 31, Skerries 10;
Queens University 7, Corinthians 21;
U.C.C. 13, Nenagh Ormond 0;

Division 2B: City of Derry 24, MU Barnhall 7;
Dungannon 22, City of Armagh 30;
Greystones 24, Sunday's Well 21;
Highfield 59, Bective Rangers 7;
Rainey Old Boys 15, Seapoint 0;

Division 2C: Bruff 34, Dundalk 25;
Midleton 21, Boyne 22;
Old Crescent 34, Tullamore 29;
Sligo 22, Navan 15;
Wanderers 10, Kanturk 29;

All Ireland Provincial League Championship: Bangor 24, Westport 5;
Clonmel v Enniscorthy postponed;