UCC are the only unbeaten team left in 1B, Buccaneers pulled off another big win beating Highfield in Cork and Old Belvedere and Naas played out a cracker in Ollie Campbell Park.
Highfield 14-17 Buccaneers, Woodleigh Park
Buccaneers are making the other clubs in the division take note. They backed up last week’s win vs Old Wesley with a great result on the road to the previously unbeaten Highfield.
The scores were level at the halftime break. Buccs took the lead through a well worked Josh O’Connor try in the fifteenth minute. On the half hour mark, the hosts levelled the score. Tighthead Prop James French getting over after a good carry close to the try line.
A great break from substitute Will Reilly gave Buccs back the lead, fifteen minutes into the second half. Stephen Mannion pushed their lead out to ten points with a penalty. Highfield got a maul penalty try to reduce the lead to just three points with seven minutes left in the game. It made for an interesting end to the contest.
However, Eddie O’Sullivan’s men just managed to hang on and get their second victory of the league campaign. Since promotion from 2A they’ve looked well equipped at the higher level.
Old Belvedere 25-22 Naas, Ollie Campbell Park
Two late tries scored by Jayden Beckett and Joe White made the Old Belvedere faithful erupt, beating Naas 25-22 on Saturday.
It was clear from the opening few minutes that this was going to be a very close game. Oscar Cawley opened the score with his third try in two matches. White crossed over for old Belvedere before Donal Conroy got Naas’s second try. They had a 12-10 lead after the opening half.
Justin Leornard kicked Old Belvedere into the lead early in the second half, but it was short lived as Andrew Osbourne scored a great try out on his wing to put them back in the ascendency. Brian Croke made it a two-score game with a penalty.
Sean O’Brien made his long-awaited entrance for the Kildare men. They had a nine-point advantage, with ten minutes to go. A bit of individual brilliance from Beckett and brilliant team try, finished by White, gave them a huge home victory.
City Of Armagh 24-21 Old Wesley, Palace Grounds
City of Armagh made it two wins from three when they beat Old Wesley 24-21 at the weekend.
They had a 24-7 cushion early in the second half. They scored four tries, securing the bonus point. Shea O’Brien, James McCormick, Jack Hughes, Andrew Willis all getting their name on the score sheet.
Credit to Old Wesley, they came back stronger, almost pulling off a great comeback. Their scorers were Harry Noonan, Eoin Deegan, Sam Pim. Unfortunately for them it was their second defeat on the bounce and they’ll be hoping to improve come the next block of fixtures,
University College Cork 25-22 St Mary’s College, The Mardyke
UCC maintained their 100% winning start to the league with a hard-fought victory over Sean Cronin’s St Mary’s College.
Six tries were scored in a highly entertaining encounter. Adam McEvoy, Jack Reidy Walsh, Richie Halpin all getting the Mary’s tries.
Louis Bruce, Sean Condon and Killian Coghlan scoring for the students to earn them the four points.
Malone 27-24 Banbridge, Gibson Park
Malone got their first win of the season against Ulster neighbours Banbridge.
Malone trailed by thirteen points after the opening 40 minutes. Declan Moore, Aaron Sexton and Ben Gibson scoring their three tries.
The visitors got all their tries in the opening half through a Ben Carson brace and a John Cromie try.
