Ulster Bank League Roundup

Young Munster maintain a one point advantage at the top of Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League after a home victory over Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park.

Young Munster 15, Lansdowne 13 (Cormac Liddy)
A great start and a dramatic finish gave table toppers Young Munster the win against Lansdowne who had to be content with a losing bonus point at Clifford Park.
Willie Staunton was the hero for the home side and inside five minutes he had been successful with two penalties.
Out half Craig Ronaldson was on target with a Lansdowne penalty but Staunton landed his third to make it 9-3 for the home side after half an hour.
Mercifully the torrential rain which had fallen for hours stayed away during the game and the visitors went in front with the only try when winger Matt Healy got in after a lapse in the home defence. Ronaldson converted to make it 10-9 for Lansdowne at the interval.
Staunton missed a couple of penalties before he again put Young Munster in front with his fourth penalty.
Lansdowne were unlucky when a penalty came back off the woodwork but a Ronaldson penalty extended the visitors. Young Munster's Mike Prendergast was wide with a drop goal effort and Staunton tried for points with two penalties from inside his own half.
Five minutes from the end Staunton was wide with a penalty attempt from out on the touchline after Darragh O'Neill was illegally tackled.
But with time almost up and Young Munster staring defeat Staunton proved his worth with his fifth penalty to earn a precious, though, flattering win against a Lansdowne side who must be wondering why they conceded so many penalties.
Scorers Young Munster: W Staunton 5 pens,
Lansdowne: M Healy try, C Ronaldson 2 pens, 1 con
Young Munster: R Moloney; M Costello, A Burke, M Kelleher, D O'Neill; W Staunton, M Prendergast; G Flaherty, G Slattery, A Cotter; D Gallagher, S Duggan; L Og Murphy, S Hassett, N Melbourne.
Lansdowne: R McCarron; C Ahern, F Horan, W Walshe, M Healy; C Ronaldson, J Cooney; J O'Connell, D Twomey, M Moore; T Byrne, W Earle; K Essex, J Kelly, R Boucher.
Referee, E O'Dowd, IRFU.

Clontarf remain in second place after they collected maximum points from their 29-8 home win over Shannon. A try by Dave O’Donovan and a penalty by Tadgh Bennett saw the Limerick side trail 10-8 at half time. It was all Clontarf after the break and they scored three tries to secure the bonus point in the second half.

Blackrock 14, Cork Constitution 17. Cork Constitution moved up to third place with a second half come back away to Blackrock College at Stradbrook. Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Con’ played some superb running rugby and dominated general play but this wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard as they trailed 14-7 at the break. Niall O’Driscoll set up Con’s only score of the opening half with a great break as he unselfishly passed off to Brian O’Hara who touched down and Gerry Hurley converted. Con’s experience told after the break and Martin Gatley scored Con’ second try and Hurley added the extras and followed up with a penalty. Scorers Blackrock: D Fitzpatrick, try, 3 pens. Scorers Cork Constitution: B O’Hara, M Gatley tries, G Hurley 2 cons, pen. Blackrock: A Letham; M Scott Lennon, J S Byrne, M McKeever, G Greene; D Fitzpatrick, A McGinty; S Byrne, C Culleton, R Fisher; D Dillon, A Dunlop; D Mannion, R Marsh, J Brien. Replacements Used: T Moran, C Carroll, R Liddy, D Barnett, S Treacy. Cork Constitution: D Lyons; C Quinn, N O’Driscoll, A Ryan, R Clune; J Holland, G Hurley; M Gatley, A Cudmore, C Corkery; B Hayes, C O’Flaherty; B Cuttriss, B O’Hara, J Ryan. Replacements Used: K Stokes, B Cagney, J McSwiney, C McGovern, D O’Shea. Referee: S McDowell (IRFU)

Dolphin 9, Garryowen 14;
Victory for Garryowen at Musgrave Park as Dolphin still remain in relegation trouble after this result.
A try on the stroke of half time by Lorcan Burke gave the Light Blues a 7-3 interval lead with Declan Cusack converting.
Barry Keeshan opened the scoring with a penalty for Dolphin and kicked his second penalty four minutes into the second half.
Dolphin were camped on the Garryowen line in the final five minutes when a foot rush up field saw Corey Hircock score a second try for the visitors and Cusack converted. Keeshan made sure of a losing bonus point with his third penalty.
Scorers Dolphin: B Keeshan 3 pens.
Garryowen: L Burke, C Hircock tries, D Cusack 2 cons.

UL Bohemian 13, Ballymena 30 (Cormac Liddy)
This Division 1B game at Annacotty was plodding along in a somewhat tedious manner when a three-try blitz in a seven minute spell pushed Ballymena out of sight.
JJ Hanrahan kicked a third minute penalty for UL Bohemian but a superb drop goal from 40 yards by John Semple tied it up after 33 minutes.
It remained that way to the interval and twelve minutes into the second half a penalty by Semple edged Ballymena in front for the first time.
The lead lasted only six minutes as Hanrahan put over his second penalty for the home side to make it 6-6.
Then came a yellow card for Sean Rennisson for UL Bohemian for an infringement in a ruck just on the hour.
Three minutes later came the first of the Ballymena tries when Richie Ainsworth raced in and before UL Bohemian could regroup they conceded a second try, this time scored by Richard Anderson. To add to the grief of the home side Alister Frazer completed the try fest for the visitors.
Ben Martin got in for a try for UL Bohemian which Hanrahan converted but two minutes from the end Ballymena celebrated their bonus point win when John Andrew touched down.
It was a flattering win for the Ulster side but they capitalised superbly on the extra man for the ten minutes before Rennisson returned to the action.
Scorers: UL Bohemian: Ben Martin try, JJ Hanrahan 2 pens, 1 con.
Ballymena: Richard Ainsworth, Richard Anderson, Alister Fraser, John Andrew try each, John Semple, 1 pen, 1 dgl, 2 cons.

Both Bruff and U.C.C. remain at the bottom of Division 1B after away defeats. Leaders Ballynahinch defeated Bruff 17-3. Brian Cahill kicked a penalty for the visitors.

U.C.C. are still looking for their first win following their 27-14 away defeat by Dungannon. Pat Parfrey and Brian O’Callaghan scored tries for the students and Cormac O’Flynn converted both.

In Division 2A Old Crescent defeated Malone 20-19. Brendan Guilfoyle and Tevita Tali Toia scored Crescent;s tries Paul Lougheran kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Bective rangers defated Thomond 39-6 at Donnybrook.

A try by Jeff Hitchmough was not enough for Midleton who lost at home to Trinity 15-5.

Clonakilty still remain in bottom place after their 48-10 away defeat by Old Wesley. Mark Purcell scored a try for Clonakilty and Matt Kirby kicked a conversion and penalty.

Cashel remain in top place in Division 2B following their 32-0 away win over Navan. John Ed O’Connor, Ed Leamy, Kevin Quinlan, Brian Silke, Kieran Merrigan scored tries for the Tipperary side and Pat O’Connor kicked a conversion.

Nenagh Ormond moved into fourth place after their 17-6 home win over Sunday’s Well. Conor Whelan scored two tries for the winners and David Corcoran one and David Fogarty added a conversion. Barry Hanrahan replied with two penalties for the visitors.

Highfield collected maximum points with a 35-16 home win over Connemara. Dave Kellyscored two tries for the winners and Conor O’Leary and Kieran Moloney got one each. Ricki Jacobs kicked three penalties and three conversions.

RESULTS:

Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Blackrock College 14, Cork Constitution 17;
Clontarf 29, Shannon 8;
Dolphin 9, Garryowen 14;
St. Mary's College 15, Old Belvedere 10;
Young Munster 15, Lansdowne 13;

Division 1B: Ballynahinch 17, Bruff 3;
Belfast Harlequins 19, Buccaneers 14;
Dungannon 27, U.C.C. 14;
U.C.D. 13, Galwegians 26;
U.L. Bohemian 13, Ballymena 30;

Division 2A: Bective Rangers 39, Thomond 6;
City of Derry 20, Seapoint 29;
Corinthians 17, Queens University 11;
Greystones 27, Instonians 11;
Midleton 5, Dublin University 15;
Old Crescent 20, Malone 19;
Old Wesley 48, Clonakilty 10;
Terenure College 5, D.L.S.P. 9;

Division 2B: Ards 20, Wanderers 18;
Boyne 17, Banbridge 10;
Highfield 35, Connemara 16;
Naas 13, Sligo 30;
Navan 0, Cashel 32;
Nenagh Ormond 17, Sunday's Well 16;
NUIM Barnhall 36, City of Armagh 11;
Rainey Old Boys 35, Suttonians 10;