St Mary’s are on the way to 1A as they assured top spot at the weekend, the top four race rages on, while at the bottom UCC kept their hopes of survival alive while Queens ended their losing streak.
Blackrock College (1T) 7-40 Old Wesley (6T), Stradbrook
Old Wesley moved to second place in 1B as they claimed an emphatic result over their Dublin rivals Blackrock.
Stephen Smyth gave Wesely the ideal start as he broke from the back of a lineout maul to nab the opening score, Eoin Monahan converting from the car park near the touchline for a 7-0 lead. Blackrock replied with a lineout maul of their own after 22 minutes, Niall Hardiman dotting down James Fennelly converting to level matters.
Reuben Pim restored the Wesley lead and gave them the advantage going into the break, the ball sprayed wide as Wesely attacked near the Rock 5m line, Pim darting down the channel to cross for the try. Monahan was not in the car park this time and he dissected the posts with the conversion, 14-7 at the break.
Into the second half and Wesley started the better, working the phases well it took until almost the hour mark for the next score as Cronan Gleeson dotted in the left corner to add their third try. That went unconverted by Monahan, the kicker made up for it by sniping their bonus try minutes later and then converting for a 26-7 lead.
The floodgates had opened, Wesley would add two more tries to the board, Josh Pim with both in the dying minutes to further the visitors lead, Monahan with the extras.
Buccaneers (1T) 16-35 Queens University (4T), Dubarry Park
Queens aided their hopes of safety by overcoming their relegation rivals Buccaneers with a bonus point win away from home. It looks like they will have to head for the play-offs unless they allow Buccs to overtake them in the standings.
Mark Earle struck two early penalties for the hosts before Queens struck the opening try as Jake McCay crossed from close range, James Humphreys converting for a 7-6 lead. A long range penalty from Earle extended their lead in the contest, the lead was furthered when Orrin Burgess raced in for a try, converted for a 16-7 lead.
Queens rallied back late on, Harry Long crossing for their second try after a well executed lineout maul, the conversion was wide, Humphreys would land a penalty to make it a one point game at the interval.
The second half was dominated by Queens on the scoring front, Humphreys kicked the visitors back into the lead with a close range penalty early in the half. What followed was a tirade on the scoring front, Long and Rory Telfer added tries, both converted by Humphreys.
Garryowen (8T) 56-5 Naas (1T), Dooradoyle
Garryowen were ruthless in dispatching Naas at the weekend to move to third in the standings.
The hosts were on the board after 11 minutes with Bryan Fitzgerald crossing for the opening try after 11 minutes, converted by Dylan Hicks. Max Klein crossed for the first of a hat trick of tries in the 21st minute and Hicks doubled the Garryowen lead. Inside opening half stoppage time Donnacha Byrne crossed for their third try which Hicks converted, 21-0 at the interval.
Clein soon added his second early in the second half, converted once again by Hicks. Momentum was all with Garryowen, Klein soon added his hat trick and then Byrne added a second try Hicks converting both for a 42-0 lead.
Naas got on the board with Muiris Cleary crossing with minutes left in the contest. Garryowen finished with a flurry, Neil Cronin and Colm Quilligan adding late tries and Kelvin Langan converted both.
Highfield (0T) 9-10 St Mary’s College (1T), Woodleigh Park
A Steven Kilgallen try converted by Mick O’Gara, ensured St Mary’s took the points in Cork and with it confirmed that they will play 1A rugby next season.
It was a low scoring affair for the large part as Shane O’Riordan struck penalties on the 20th and 40th minute marks to give the hosts a 6-0 lead at the interval.
O’Riordan made it 9-0 with his third kick in the ninth minute of the second half. Mary’s soon began their comeback, O’Gara striking their first points off the tee after 68 minutes. With just five minutes left Kilgallen crossed the whitewash, O’Gara with the lead for the visitors, joy for Mary’s, heartbreak for Highfield.
UCC (3T) 22-21 Old Belvedere (3T), The Mardyke
Despite Old Belvedere crossing with the last play of the game UCC secured a big win on home soil to keep their survival hopes well in tact.
Cian Whooley opened the scoring with an early penalty, it was the first points of his tally as minutes later the out-half dove over in the corner, his conversion missing the mark. Sam O’Sullivan added their second try shy of the break and Whooley converted this time around. Calum Dowling got the visitors on the board shy of the break and David Wilkinson reduced the arrears 15-7 with the conversion.
Louis Bruce crossed for a third College try early in the second half, the skipper seeing his try converted by Whooley. Back however came Belvedere, Jayden Beckett breaking his way through the cover to score, Wilkinson reducing the arrears, it was a grandstand finish of sorts, UCC kept Belvo out until Luke McDermott crossed in the final act of play, Wilkinson accurate as ever from the tee.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.