Tries, tries and more tries was the theme from this past weekend’s rugby. Terenure College, Dublin University, Ballynahinch and Clontarf are all still unbeaten after the opening two rounds of fixtures.
CLONTARF 27 LANSDOWNE 19, Castle Avenue
Hooker and stand in captain Dylan Donnellan found himself on the scoresheet again to help his Clontarf earn a hard fought 27-19 victory over arch rivals Lansdowne.
The hosts scored three first half tries to set them well on their way to the win. Once again Donnellan showing how dangerous he is from close range, scoring to open their account. Their next came about ten minutes later, a good break by Tony Ryan was supported by the lovely line of scrum half Angus Llyod who put on the afterburners to provide a quality finish. Young tighthead prop Ben Griffin also crossing the line for his first AIL try.
Lansdowne suffered a blow before a ball was even kicked, Leinster player Harry Byrne was forced to pull out during the warmup due to injury. Despite trailing 21-0 just before half time, they clawed their way back into the contest. Inside centre Conall Doherty scoring before the break.
Number eight Clive Ross scored just after the interval, Charlie Tector reducing the deficit to just seven points. Conor Kelly kicked a penalty before ex Connacht winger Peter Sullivan scored late on to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. In the dying moments, Kelly converted another penalty to secure the result and deny Mark McHugh’s men of the losing bonus point.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 38 UCD 24, College Park
The colours game is always a spectacle and it didn’t disappoint this time around either, we were treated to a ten try thriller.
Ronan Quinn didn’t wait around when he scored from a speedy counter attack to give his team an early advantage, however, their lead was short lived after Lee Barron was sent to the sinbin after a deliberate slap down, Leinster academy backrow Sean O’Brien storming off the back of the next scrum, giving UCD a 7-5 advantage.
Scrum half Louis O’Reilly and backrow O’Brien traded scores before Diarmuid McCormack restored the hosts lead, getting over from close range to put them 17-12 to the good at the interval.
There were more yellow cards in the second half. UCD’S Mark Fleming and Trinity’s McCormack getting sent to the bin. A Ruadhan Byron and Thomas Connolly try extended their lead, before Dylan O’Grady got over the whitewash to make it a 31-19 game. Fullback Colm Hogan and backrower Fleming got one more try each for their team before the final whistle blew, in a highly entertaining game.
TERENURE COLLEGE 47 CORK CONSTITUTION 12, Lakelands Park
Terenure College put themselves at the summit of the AIL 1A table with an emphatic 47-12 victory over Cork Con.
47-0 was the score at the halftime break. Maul tries scored by Jordan Coughlan and Harrison Brewer got them started. Callum Smyth, an intercept try from Adam La Grue and a wonderful finish from Craig Adams were the picks of their seven tries. Centres Colm De Buitléar and Peter Sylvester providing the perfect shape for their attack all game.
Credit to Johnny Holland’s team who dug deep, dominating possession for most of the second half, despite going down to 14 men midway through the half. They scored two consolation tries. The first was a straight forward and powerful maul try finished by Scannell. The second was well taken, Moynihan with a well measured cross kick to centre Higgins who walked in for the try. The game finished 47-12.
BALLYNAHINCH 41 SHANNON 8, Ballymacarn Park
Ballynahinch look like a totally different outfit this season, backing up their shock over Lansdowne last week with a dominant 41-8 victory over a struggling Shannon.
Out Greg Hutley converted tries from Bradley Luney, a brace from Aaron Cairns, Jamie Macartney and Zack McCall. Hutley kicked two more penalties.
Scrum half Aran Hehir captained Shannon on the day and picked up their only try, Kelvin Brown and Lee Nicholas putting in big shifts up front as they always do but a series of yellow cards really stopped them from building up any serious momentum. They continue to find life difficult back in the top flight.
YOUNG MUNSTER 26 GARRYOWEN 23, Tom Clifford Park
A late Evan Cusack penalty secured the four points for Young Munster who just edged their Limerick neighbours in a competitive Limerick derby.
Munster academy out half Tony Butler was Garryowen’s shining light scoring all of their points in a much-improved performance following the heavy beating they faced at the hands of Dublin University a week prior.
However, it was the hosts who got the win. A Jack Harrington try and a penalty try and fourteen points from the boot of Evan Cusack was enough to earn them the spoils.
