With 29 bonus point wins in a row Instonians now sit eight points clear at the summit of 2B, Wanderers moved second with another win and Rainey Old Boys taking the spoils in their tie with Galway Corinthians.
Instonians (14T) 86-7 (1T) Dolphin, Shaw’s Bridge
Instonians made it 29 bonus point wins in a row to move eight points clear at the summit of 2B, following a convincing 14 try win over Dolphin.
Stones dominated early and Bevan Prinsloo struck the opening try of the contest out wide with Ruairi O’Farrell converting. Schalk Van Der Merwe soon added a second try getting over after some intense phases following their maul getting yards, the conversion not finding the mark on that occasion. Prinsloo added a beautiful second try as the half wore on, gliding past two Dolphin players to glide over to make it 17-0 as the conversion again went wide.
The bonus point try arrived following a quickly taken penalty on half way, Stones switched the ball out wide for Bradley McNamara, he used his sheer pace to race down the wing and cross the whitewash, again the conversion missed the mark. A penalty try furthered the hosts lead as Dolphin could not handle their savage scrum. James Vaughan got the Cork side on the board minutes later with a try converted by Daryl Foley.
It would do little to stop Instonians in their tracks as the half wore on, Oli Clarke with the sixth try as the rolling maul saw the big man over for his usual score. The Shaw’s Bridge faithful were not seeing double as the half neared its conclusion, McNamara added his second try having ran almost half the pitch to touch down in the corner, soon after he produced a sensational dummy to deceive the Dolphin defender and score his hat trick, 46-7 as Farrell converted one of the latter tries in the half.
Into the second half Paul Pritchard was next to cross the whitewash for the hosts, Ritchie McMaster taking up the kicking duties to dissect the uprights. Matt Keane followed that up with a great showing of pace to get past the Dolphin cover and score the tenth try of the afternoon for the Belfast men, McMaster making it 60-7.
Rhys O’Donnell, Ali Burke, Keane and O’Donnell again added tries to finish the game with a flurry, McMaster adding three from four conversions, another incredible performance by Instonians, the only unbeaten team left in the Men’s AIL Divisions.
Malahide (2T) 15-13 Dungannon (2T), Estuary Road
David O’Halloran struck a dramatic late penalty for Malahide to give them all the points in a nail biting and heart breaking finish to the action in Estuary Road for the sides involved.
Malahide would strike first as Justin Leonard went over for the games opening try which O’Halloran converted for a 7-0 lead. A yellow card saw the numerical advantage rest with Dungannon and using that advantage a lineout driving maul saw James McMahon touch down. Jacob Clarke’s conversion from the corner was only just wide, the lead marginally remained with Malahide.
The score was untouched as the half wore on, into the second half Malahide would again snipe first with Daniel Hayes crossing for the try, the conversion unsuccessful on this occasion. Gannon did reply well to going behind once again, James Girvan crossing for their second try, Clarke saw his conversion strike the upright but would soon dispatch a penalty for the lead.
It would be joy in the end for the hosts and heartbreak for the visitors, the referee had blown for full time however the assistant intervened to mention a high tackle was committed by Dungannon and a penalty and yellow card followed. O’Halloran set up a kick just inside the Ulster outfit’s half and he made no mistake slotting over for the win.
Rainey Old Boys (2T) 16-10 Galway Corinthians (1T), Hatrick Park
Rainey did their hopes at making the play-offs a world of good with a strong opening half performance seeing them overcome Galway Corinthians at Hatrick Park.
Tries from Ben Brown and Michael McCusker along with two penalties from the boot of Scott McLean gave the hosts a healthy 16-0 cushion going into the break. Corinthians certainly needed a big performance as Rainey were playing some beautiful rugby.
It would be all the Galway side on the scoring front in the second stanza, Finn McNulty crossing for the opening try for Corinthians which Dylan Keane converted for a 16-7 score line. Keane reduced the gap to six with a penalty, however try as they might in the final minutes Rainey held firm to seal a massive win.
Sligo (5T) 29-5 Skerries (1T), Hamilton Park
Sligo returned to winning ways to continue their push for the play-offs, seeing the game out with a strong second half showing to take the maximum points.
The hosts were first to cross as Finn Bamber crossed out wide, Euan Brown making no error to slot the conversion. Skerries would soon hit back with a short penalty, John Healy went over and the Hamilton Park wind saw the conversion miss the mark. From here Sligo would take control, Brendan Cunningham grabbing their second in the corner, the lead 12-5 at the interval.
Kuba Wojtkowicz powered his way over early in the second half to further the lead for the goats, Brown saw his conversion smack off the upright. The bonus arrived when Philip Carter powered his way under the posts after some quick phases, Cunningham slotted the resulting conversion. Cunningham would soon add his second try after some more sensual passes landed out wide and he made no error in getting over.
Wanderers (4T) 32-17 Belfast Harlequins (3T), Merrion Road
Wanderers moved to second place as Corinthians suffered defeat and the Dubliners took yet another bonus point berth.
Wanderers certainly set the pace in the opening half, Conor McQuaid crossing for the opening try which David Fitzgibbon converted. Stephen Dunne was next to cross for the hosts and Fitzgibbon doubled the lead with the resulting conversion. Soon after Fitzgibbon made it 17-0 from a penalty and at the latter stages of the half he converted Sean Goodburns try for a 24-0 lead at the break.
Tries from Curtis Bones and Cole Blyde helped reduce the arrears for the visitors early in the second half, Fitzgibbon would land a penalty to increase The Chaps lead before Conor O’Brien added the bonus point try. Kieran Tomlinson added a late consolation try for the Belfast men.
More Info on Division 2B 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.