St Mary’s made it three bonus point wins in a row with a late surge to overcome UCC, elsewhere Highfield notched a third win to remain on their coattails.
Highfield (5T) 36-19 Buccaneers (1T), Woodleigh Park
Highfield remained unbeaten in 1B with a strong second half performance getting over the line against a persistent Buccaneers.
Despite Jamie Shanahan crossing for an early try that Shane O’Riordan converted, two Stephen Mannion penalties and one from Michael Hanley had Buccs ahead 9-7 after 34 minutes. Mannion crossed minutes later for the games second try, his conversion kept the Westmeath side clear. Travis Coomey powered his way over shy of the break and with the effort going unconverted the hosts trailed 16-12 at the break.
Miah Cronin added the hosts third try of the contest at the back of a powerful driving lineout maul six minutes into the second half, O’Riordan converting for a three point lead for the hosts. With 55 minutes on the clock Shanahan grabbed his brace and the bonus point after a number of phases. O’Riordan converted and was needed again 12 minutes later as the hosts started to dictate play.
Hanley cut the gap to seven with his second penalty of the contest, but minutes later substitute scrum half Richard Cassisy picked at the back of a close range maul and darted over for the fifth try. O’Riordan kicked his fourth conversion before a late penalty made the winning margin 17.
Old Belvedere (6T) 43-40 (6T) Blackrock College, Ollie Campbell Park
Old Belvedere took the local Dublin bragging rights along with their first win of the season in a dramatic high scoring encounter with Blackrock in Ollie Campbell Park.
Belvedere started well in the opening minutes, a terrific run down the right wing from Jack Keating was finished by Calum Dowling for the games opening try, James Doyle blocked a Blackrock attempted box kick to clear their lines to race towards the line, he offloaded to Hugh Flood to cross from close range, both tries converted by Mick O’Kennedy. A dominant opening ten minutes from Belvo.
Matthew Cosgrove replied for Blackrock shy of the half hour mark driving over from close range as Belvedere were camped right on their try line. Oliver Coffey converted to cut the gap to seven. Belvedere were reduced to 13 men minutes later, the first card kept possession with Blackrock inside the Belvo 22, the second came as Rock looked to maul over, the referee awarded a penalty try and the second slice of cheese was presented to a Belvo man. Mick O’Kennedy would strike a penalty to put the hosts three ahead at the break.
With just over four minutes gone in the second half, Peter O’Beirne went wide after numerous phases saw Rock hold out on their line, Keating gathered and raced in for their third try, O’Kennedy missed the resulting conversion. The bonus point was secured 52 minutes in as Connor Owende powered over from close range, O’Kennedy made no mistake this time from a much closer attempt.
Cosgrove reduced arrears for Blackrock powering over from close range after a dominant lineout maul in the 57th minute, Coffey cut the gap to eight points with the conversion. Belvedere had a swift reply as Gavin Nugent crossed in the corner after Belvo sprayed to the left wing when again Rock were too strong for their forwards to drive over from close range. O’Kennedy with the extras put Belvo 36-21 clear.
Rock were 15 down but still were battling to comeback and with Liam Nicholson going over from another dominant lineout maul it helped their charges, minutes later however Keating spotted a gap in the Rock rear guard and raced over for try number six. O’Kennedy converted for a 43-26 lead. With another Belvo man sent to the bin, Blackrock came within a whisker of taking a win, Louis Keys with their fifth try before David Heavy crossed at the death, Coffey converting both to leave just three between them in the finish, despite having the possession in the dying embers Belvedere turned it over and sent the ball out of touch.
Old Wesley (7T) 48-26 Naas (4T), Energia Park
Old Wesley moved to third with a bonus point result over Naas in Energia Park, building on their strong opening half they limited Naas fightback in the second.
It was Naas who scored the opening try after less than two minutes, Charlie Sheridan bursting his way through and Peter Osbourne’s conversion put seven between them. Wesley were quick to reply however, Nathan Randles crossing in the corner to leave two between them.
Tries from Josh O’Hare, Cronan Gleeson and Stephen Smyth along with two Ian Cassidy conversions put Wesley in the driving seat for the latter stages of the half, leading 24-7 at the break with the bonus secured. Cassidy crossed himself early in the second half as Wesley were really running away with proceedings with another converted try.
Fionn Higgins and Donal Conrory crossed for tries shy of the 55 minute mark with Sam Cahill converting to lower the margin to ten. Cassidy landed a penalty to extend the Wesley lead before Reuben Pim and Howard Noonan pushed the Wesley lead to 48-21 as Cassidy added the extras for both. Higgins grabbed a late bonus point for Naas as a consolation.
Queens University (6T) 41-32 Garryowen (5T), Dub Lane
Queens made it consecutive bonus point wins with five second half tries seeing the young guns overcome the old guard.
Johnny Hunter crossed early but his try went unconverted, however James Humphrey’s landed a penalty for an 8-0 lead for Queens. Garryowen came right back into the tie, Dean Fanning and a Kelbin Lanagn penalty levelled matters before Donnacha Byrne crossed shy of the break to put the Limerick men 15-8 ahead at the break.
Colm Quiligan and Nicky Greene made it an electric start for the Shannonsiders to get their bonus point early on in the second stanza, Langan with one conversion putting the visitors ahead 25-8.
Queens did not let the deficit phase them, Harry Long and Humphreys crossed the whitewash before Hunter added a second try and alongside a bonus point the students were ahead before Ryan Davies crossed for a 34-25 scoreline. Peter Heasley crossed to further their gap with the two tries converted they were 41-25 ahead before Kyle Read crossed for a converted try.
St Mary’s College (5T) 31-25 UCC (3T), Templeville Road
St Mary’s continued their early lead of 1B with their third straight bonus point of the campaign against UCC.
Daniel Sancery gave the hosts the lead with the opening try following some space for the winger to exploit, Mick O’Gara added the extras. Daniel Squires cut the gap for UCC with a penalty before Ben O’Connor scored an exquisite try in the corner from a grubber kick along the line.
After the half hour mark another scrum allowed Sancery space to once again get over and O’Gara obliged for the extra two. Squires added a penalty to cut the gap before from a Mary’s penalty they mauled forthe line and Jamie Harding made it 19-11 at the break.
Conor Hayes added the bonus point with some clever footwork seeing the full-back dodge and weave to beat the tacklers and get over for the fourth try, O’Gara making it 26-11 from the tee. UCC fought back for the remainder of the half, O’Connor grabbed his second try which Squires converted before Sam O’Sullivan crossed for the third try minutes later. One point game after Squires added the extra points.
It was a nervy final minutes in Templeville Road, with five left on the clock Sancery completed his hat trick getting over in the corner after Conor Deane played the key pass to send him over. UCC left with a bonus but became the biggest test for Mary’s so far and could have left with the win.
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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.