Senior Rugby Round-Up

There were big shocks at the bottom of Division 1A and 1B of the Ulster Bank League with wins for Dolphin and Shannon.

At Irish Independent Park, Dolphin recorded their first league win of the season with a narrow 12-11 win over Young Munster in Division 1A.

This result sees Dolphin just three points behind St. Mary’s, while Young Munster’s hopes of a top four finish suffered another setback.

Four penalties from Rory Scannell to one by Gearoid Lyons gave Dolphin a 12-3 half-time lead. The introduction of Willie Staunton at the break made a big difference to the Limerick side and within thirty seconds Shane O’Leary was in for a Munster's try in the corner.

Lyons reduced the margin to a point with a penalty on 57 minutes, but Dolphin rallied in the final quarter to maintain their slender advantage, although Ben Martin was off target with a long range penalty for the visitors four minutes from time.

Cork Constitution kept up their challenge for a top four finish with a 21-7 away win over Terenure College.

Tomás Quinlan was Constitution’s hero as he scored 16 points for his side with two first half penalties giving the visitors a 6-0 lead at the interval.

Second half tries from Quinlan and skipper Gerry Hurley and a conversion and penalty by Quinlan saw Constitution take the spoils.

In Division 1B, Shannon bounced back from last week’s surprising defeat by Sunday’s Well, to defeat leaders Galwegians 18-3 at Crowley Park.

A try by David O’Donovan and two penalties by Tadhg Bennett gave Shannon an 11-3 interval lead. The only score of the second half was a try for Shannon by Stephen Fitzgerald and Ronan McKenna converted.

Garryowen took full advantage of the leaders slip up with a 28-20 home win over Buccaneers.

It was a happy afternoon for Garryowen’s out half Jamie Gavin who topped the 100 points mark by kicking thirteen points to bring his tally to 105.

He was on target early on to put his side in front after six minutes but Callum Boland tied it up with his 12^th minute penalty for Buccs.

The visitors went in front when awarded a penalty try and Boland converted, but just on half-time Gavin atoned for an earlier miss by kicking his second penalty to leave it 10-6 for the visitors.

Garryowen regained the lead on 66 minutes thanks to a well-taken try by Alex Wootton which was followed by a Gavin penalty.

In the final ten minutes Garryowen had tries by Steve McMahon and Ed Rossiter, both of which Gavin converted and it seemed a big winning margin was likely, but two late Buccaneers tries closed the gap.

U.L. Bohemian lost at home to Dublin University 32-13 at Thomond Park, a result that sees U.L. Bohs fall into the relegation places.

U.L. Bohemian were reduced to fourteen when skipper Ed Kelly was shown a second yellow card five minutes before half-time, as the home side trailed 17-6 after 40 minutes with Shane Airey kicking two penalties for the home side.

Not surprisingly Dublin University were in control in the second half and added two further tries to secure the bonus point.

Ian Condell had the only try for UL Bohemian which Airey converted.

Results:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf 44, St Mary's College 15;
Dolphin 12, Young Munster 11;
Lansdowne 21, Old Belvedere 20;
Terenure College 7, Cork Constitution 21;
U.C.D. 31, Ballynahinch 24;

Division 1B: Ballymena 17, Belfast Harlequins 13;
Galwegians 3, Shannon 18;
Garryowen 28, Buccaneers 20;
Malone 27, Corinthians 11;
U.L. Bohemian 13, Dublin University 32;