St Mary’s College remain the pace setters in 1B, Belvedere take up second place, while Naas make ground to jump to fourth. Garryowen secured a big result elsewhere to sit within touching distance of fourth spot.
Buccaneers (0T) 0-14 Garryowen (2T), Dubarry Park
Garryowen did the damage in the opening half and moved sixth in the table after a strong win on the road in Athlone.
The Shannonsiders with consecutive wins are within touching distance of the top four and look to have turned the tide as we enter the break. Tries from Kelvin Langan and Kyle Read converted by Jack Delaney ensured the points headed down the road back to Dooradoyle.
Highfield (3T) 19-22 Old Wesley (3T), Woodleigh Park
Old Wesley came from behind to snatch victory late on in Woodleigh Park and stay clear of the drop zone as a result.
A penalty try gave Highfield the lead early on however Wesley carved back the deficit when Tommy O’Callaghan crossed for their opening try after 20 minutes. Highfield got the ideal break before half-time with Jamie Shanahan getting over for their second try, the conversion from Shane O’Riordan making it 12-5 at the break.
With seven minutes gone in the second half Eoin Monahan struck a penalty to carve the deficit but Highfield replied with a third try as John O’Callaghan charged over and O’Riordan converted, 19-8. Tom Larke struck the Dubliners second try after 74 minutes with Monahan converting. Two minutes later the game turned on its head Josh O’Hare crossing the whitewash for the lead, Monahan kept his cool to convert. Wesley with a big finish to take the points.
Old Belvedere (7T) 43-13 Queens University (1T), Ollie Campbell Park
Old Belvedere moved to second off the back of a one sided win over Queens, a game they controlled in the opening half and ran away with in the second.
Five minutes in a lineout maul saw Kale Thatcher grab the opening score that went unconverted. Ben McFarlane reduced the arrears in the 16th minute with a penalty in front of the posts, he added a second in the 28th minute however prior to that Jack Keating dove over in the corner and the score was 10-6 after that second penalty. Belvo finished the half well, David Wilkinson crossing for the third try, which went unconverted and the lead was 15-6 at the break.
Into the second half the bonus try came on the hour mark as Keating notched his second of the afternoon with Wilkinson converting. From here Belvo kept pressing and in a seven minute window, Calum Dowling and Joe White both crossed for a 36-6 lead. Ryan Street crossed for Queens in the final ten minutes for their opening try. One more put the cherry on top for Belvedere Will McDonald crashing over for the seventh try of the contest.
St Mary’s College (3T) 20-3 Blackrock College (0T), Templeville Road
St Mary’s made it eight consecutive wins on Saturday powering home against their Dublin neighbours Blackrock, Mick O’Gara with a big contribution for Mary’s.
O’Gara put all ten opening half points on the board for Mary’s, crossing for the opening try and converting, he later struck a penalty to extend that margin. Blackrock did get on the board through Oliver Coffey but it proved their only score of the contest.
Second half tries from Leandro Ramirez and Conor Hayes sealed the result for Mary’s, with one game left until the break will see the side remain unbeaten next weekend against Queens in Belfast.
UCC (4T) 29-38 Naas (5T), The Mardyke
Naas put in a powerful shift on the road to take fourth spot as UCC missing both Dan Squires and Ben O’Connor fell to a losing bonus defeat in the finish.
UCC put in a serious battle and took the opening score after five minutes James Wixted getting over for the try as Cian Whooley converted for the 7-0 margin. Three minutes later Naas hit back as Tadhg Brophy went over and Craig Ronaldson’s conversion went over. Whooley struck over a penalty to put UCC back ahead on the quarter of an hour mark, Naas replied with a second try as Donal Conory added their second converted by Ronaldson.
It was an incredible contest at the Mardyke, UCC took a three point lead six minutes from time when captain Louis Bruce ran in a try from 50m. Whooley added those important extra points but right at the death Bryan Croke crossed for a third Naas try and Ronaldson made it 21-17 at the break.
Luke McAuliffe crashed over three minutes into the second half as UCC again took the lead, the conversion however failed to hit the mark. What did hit the mark was the bonus try from Jason Aherne that arrived in the 54th minute, the conversion from Whooley putting eight between the two.
Nass regrouped and went again and despite being down a man crossed for the bonus point try on the hour mark, Charlie Sheridan crossing for the score and Peter Osborne left the score 29-28 with 20 left. Five minutes later and Naas went in again as Brophy notched his second of the contest and a second conversion from Osborne had Naas ahead 35-29. Osborne struck a penalty at the death to make it a nine point game at the finish.
More Info on Division 1B here.
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.