Senior Rugby Round-up

With two of this weekend’s fixtures falling victim the the weather, there were just three games down for decision in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A.

Cork Constitution moved into fourth spot after they claimed a 37-32 bonus point win at home to Old Belvedere. However, a late revival from the visitors saw them earn two vital losing bonus points.

Johnny Holland opened the scoring with a penalty in the second minute and after a spell of early pressure, Munster’s John Ryan touched down just right of the posts. Holland added the extras.

Old Belvedere replied five minutes later when captain Danny Riordan got under the posts for at try, which was converted by Fergal Lawlor.

The home side spent a large period camped inside the Belvo half and when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts Holland extended the lead to 13-7. A further penalty in the twenty-ninth minute and Con led 16-7. Josh Glynn kicked a penalty in the thirty-second minute to reduce the gap to 16-10 heading into the break.

Glynn was first on the board in the second half with a penalty in the opening minutes. However, Con held the majority of possession and a Niall O’ Driscoll pass saw Darragh Lyons over the line for the first try of the half. Converted by Holland and Con were 23-13 in front.

Minutes later James Ryan made great ground and when Cathal O’ Flaherty passed the ball to Andrew Cudmore, Con were in again. A further conversion from Holland increased the lead to 30-13. When Alex Ryan crossed the white wash just right of the posts for the fourth try, the home side appeared to be in the driving seat. With the conversion courtesy of Holland, the Cork side led 37-13.

But the visitors mounted an attack in the final ten minutes and scored their first of three tries in the seventy-second minute when substitute Jonathan Slattery crossed the line. Josh Glynn converted. Seven minutes later Kieran O’ Gorman scored their third try of the afternoon. And the final play of the game saw John Kennedy score their fourth try ensuring the visitors came away with two all important losing bonus points.

The win for Cork Constitution makes it two from two for the Leesider’s ahead of their Good Friday clash with local rivals Dolphin at Musgrave Park.

Cork Constitution: Darragh Lyons, Robert Clune, Niall O’ Driscoll, Alex Ryan, Cronan Healy, Johnathan Holland. Gerry Hurley (Capt), John Ryan, Andrew O’ Driscoll, Chris Corkery, Brian Hayes, Philip Donnellan, Graeme Lawler, James Ryan, Cathal O’ Flaherty Replacements: Andrew Cudmore, James Rochford, Joe McSwiney, Cian McGovern, Conor Desmond.

Old Belvedere: Danny Riordan, Adrian Wynne, John Kennedy, Ben Woods, Josh Glynn, Fergal Lawlor, Aaron Sheehan, Pat O’ Regan, Mark Cooney, Declan Lavery, Josh Eden-Whatiri, Dean Moore, Michael Oyuga, Kieran O’ Gorman, Colin Mallon Replacements: Cillian McDonald, Vinnie Snowdon, Jonathan Slattery, Dylan Symmonds, Gearoid McDonald.

Scorers: Cork Constitution: Tries: John Ryan, Darragh Lyons, Andrew Cudmore, Alex Ryan; Cons: Johnny Holland (4); Pens: Johnny Holland (3) Old Belvedere: Tries: Danny Riordan, Kieran O' Gorman, Jonathan Slattery, John Kennedy; Cons: Fergal Lawlor, Josh Glynn (2); Pens: Josh Glynn (2)

Lansdowne moved a step closer to becoming champions when they crushed UL Bohemian at Annacotty.

After such a promising start to the campaign the wheels have well and truly come off the UL Bohemian band wagon and they remain prime contenders for demotion.

Indiscipline cost them dearly in this contest and they conceded penalties in the twelfth, sixteenth and eighteenth minutes, the first two for going in from the side.

Craig Ronaldson landed all three and worse followed for the home side after eighteen minutes when their Munster squad member JJ Hanrahan was shown a yellow card.

Simon Morrissey had the games opening try while Hanrahan was in the bin and he was just back when Ronaldson went over for a try which he converted as he did with Morrissey's try.

Four minutes before the interval UL Bohemian suffered another major blow when Ian Condell was sent to the bin and a try by Patrick O'Driscoll had Lansdowne 28-0 in front at the interval.

Seven minutes into the second half Lansdowne were awarded a penalty try which replacement Ed Torrie, a former UL Bohemian player, converted and it was all of fifty-five minutes before Sean Rennison managed a try for the home side which Ben Martin converted.

Lansdowne had the final say with a try by Ron Boucher, which Torrie again converted to send Lansdowne on their merry way.

Scorers: UL Bohemian: Try: Sean Rennison; Con: Ben Martin Lansdowne: Tries: Simon Morrissey, Craig Ronaldson, Patrick O' Driscoll, Ron Boucher, Penalty try; Cons: Craig Ronaldson (2), Ed Torrie (2); Pens: Craig Ronaldson (3)

Elsewhere it was not a good day for the Munster clubs that did play. The only side to benefit were Thomond who defeated Clonakilty 38-26 in their Division 2B relegation battle at Liam fitzgerald Park. Tries from Wayne Kelly, Diarmuid Ryan, Declan O’Connell and Gary O’Donnell earned Thomond a bonus point victory. John Lillis kicked four penalties and three conversions. Clonakilty replied with tries from Kieran Howlin and Tom Keogh and James Deasy kicked four penalties and two conversions.

Sunday’s Well remain in relegation trouble also after they lost 35-7 away to Naas. The loss of James Mulcahy to injury and Darren Loftus to a yellow card proved crucial as the Kildare side took full advantage in what was a close game up to then. Peter Arigho scored a consolation try for the ‘Well and Shane O’Riordan converted.

Old Crescent lost away to Division2A leaders Terenure College at Lakelands Park 24-7. Brendan Guilfoyle scored Crescent’s try and Aidan McNulty converted.

Midleton slipped into the relegation places after their 17-8 away defeat by Bective Rangers. Joe Ryan scored a try for the East Cork side and Jeff Hitchmough converted.

Ulster Bank League Division 1A:

Cork Constitution 37 Old Belvedere 32
Garryowen 20 Young Munster 14 (Played on Friday)
U.L. Bohemian 7 Lansdowne 42
Clontarf v Dolphin (Postponed)
St. Mary's College v Shannon (Postponed)

Division 1B:

Ballymena v U.C.D. (Postponed)
Bruff v Dungannon (Postponed)
Buccaneers v Belfast Harlequins (Postponed)
Dublin University v Ballynahinch (Postponed)
Malone v Blackrock College (Postponed)

Division 2A:

Bective Rangers 17 Midleton 8
Corinthians 24 Old Wesley 22
Galwegians 28 Cashel 16
Greystones 20 City of Derry 24
Terenure College 24 Old Crescent 7
Banbridge v Seapoint (Postponed)
D.L.S.P. v Queens University (Postponed)

Division 2B:

Naas 35 Sunday's Well 7
Thomond 38 Clonakilty 26
Boyne v NUIM Barnhall (Postponed)
City of Armagh v Rainey Old Boys (Postponed)
Instonians v Suttonians (Postponed)
Navan v Connemara (Postponed)
Nenagh Ormond v Ards (Postponed)
Skerries v Sligo (Postponed)