Instonians 32 consecutive win record came to an end in a dramatic tie with Sligo, the Connacht side booking their place as the play-offs will be finalised in the coming weeks. The relegation battle heats up as Belfast Harlequins ended their losing streak at the weekend.
Dungannon (3T) 18-31 Wanderers (4T), Stevenson Park
Wanderers are just nine points off the title as they took a bonus win with a strong showing in Stevenson Park.
The Chaps struck first with six minutes elapsed Sean Goodburn powered his way over and the ever reliable David Fitzgibbon added the conversion. Gannon pressed on the reply and Peter Nelson found touch five metres out with a penalty and the hosts took full advantage, a strong drive from their lineout maul saw Jacob Clarke over for a try, 7-5 as the conversion was wide. Wanderers replied with Val McDermott adding their second try, Fitzgibbon with the extras as the Dubliners were ahead 14-5 at the break.
Ben McCaughey converted a penalty with eight minutes elapsed in the second half to keep Dungannon in the tie. Wanderers showed their attacking intent as they soon found their third try of the contest, McDermott racing over for the score, Fitzgibbon converting. Fitzgibbon added a penalty to further their lead.
Dungannon hit back after the hour mark when Ryan Abernethy broke from a maul to dot down. 24-13 as the conversion missed the mark. Momentum stayed with the hosts and McCaughey soon crossed for their third try in the left corner. The gap went down to six as the conversion missed the mark.
Wanderers did not capitulate in the final minutes, McDermott who was an inspired figure all afternoon for Wanderers went over for a third try of the contest, the bonus point secured in the 77th minute as Fitzgibbon slotted the extras.
Galway Corinthians (4T) 29-28 Dolphin (4T), Corinthian Park
Corinthians had to weather a late Dolphin storm to take the points in Corinthian Park.
Adam Nash gave the hosts the lead crossing for an early try, that Jack Conway converted, Dolphin replied through Philip Elwood crossing the whitewash and Daryl Foley levelled the game from the tee. Tries from Finn McNulty and Tom Waters, the latter converted by Conway edged the Galway side into a 19-7 lead at the break.
Into the second period Sean Naughton crossed for the bonus point try, this one going unconverted. A penalty try was followed by a try from Eoghan Herlihy as the visitors cut the gap to three points as Foley found the target from the conversion. Just as momentum looked to be with the Leesiders, Michéal O’Reilly struck a fifth try for the hosts. Dolphin were behind 29-21 in the dying minutes, Charlie Whitford added a bonus try for the hosts, Foley converted but that one point gap stayed at full-time, cruel for Dolphin but two vital bonus points.
Rainey RFC (3T) 21-25 Malahide (3T), Hatrick Park
Malahide did their survival hopes a world of good as they had the boot of Justin Leonard to thank as they got over the challenge of Rainey.
Conrad Daly and Mark O’Brien bagged tries for the visitors early on, with Leonard adding one conversion. Rainey hit back as Daniel O’Neill crossed for their opening try, minutes later Tommy O’Hagan crossed for Rainey and with Scott McLean on the double from conversions the hosts were ahead. Malahide however hit the breakthrough shy of the interval as Lee Byrne crossed the whitewash and Leonard added the full seven on offer. 19-14 at the break.
Leonard proved decisive in the second half, two penalties enough to seal a four point win as Michael McCusker crossed for a third try converted by McLean in the half.
Skerries (4T) 33-44 Belfast Harlequins (7T), Holmpatrick
Bottom placed Belfast Harlequins had a massive win for their survival hopes, while they remain bottom they have ended a losing streak stretching since the start of the year.
Indeed it was the visitors who broke the deadlock, Ben Power crossing for their opening try, Charlie Beattie with the conversion. Skerries hit back as Ronan Mulcahy notched ten points with a penalty and a try which the kicker converted for the lead.
Quinns hit back with their second try as Tommy Morris went over but the conversion was wide. Skerries would regain the lead as Mulcahy kicked another penalty for a 13 point haul at the half hour mark. The Belfast men ended the half in strong fashion with Joel Dundas and Ross Bingham going over, Beattie converting the latter try for a 24-13 lead. Before the blast of the whistle for the break, Skerries added a second try as Kevin McGrath crossed, Mulcahy making it 24-20 at the break.
Skerries took that late momentum into the second half. Hot off the blocks Paddy Finn dotted down for the lead. Mulcahy stretched the gap with a penalty but Quinns orchestrated two beautiful attacks resulting in tries for Ben Power and Scott McClelland, Beattie converting both along with a penalty for a 37-28 lead.
All going Quinns way as the second half wore on, Ben Alexander with their seventh try of the contest, Beattie having an exhibition from the kicking tee to convert. Skerries did find a late score to take a bonus point, Peter O’Neill with potentially a crucial point coming from this defeat.
Sligo (4T) 25-24 Instonians (4T), Hamilton Park
The streak is over. A five year unbeaten league record, 32 wins on the trot since their return to the AIL last season, Instonians falling to Sligo by the barest of margins as Sligo secured a spot in the promotion play-offs.
Testing conditions in Hamilton Park as the hosts settled into the tie with Julian Leszczynski firing an early penalty between the uprights. Instonians hit back with Bev Prinsloo racing over for their opening try, Ritchie McMaster converting for a 7-3 lead.
Sligo would soon regain their lead, 22 minutes elapsed their lineout move on the Stones 22 worked like a charm. Sligo with some beautiful free flowing moves to attack the Instonians line, Euan Brown made a pinpoint pass for Cathal Finneran to race down the left touchline and dot in the corner somehow, Sligo with a one point lead as the conversion went wide.
That lead for the hosts was extended five minutes from half-time. Leszczynski booted a penalty on halfway to the left corner. Matthew Earley threw the lineout and the maul inched forward, Sligo going and going and in the end Earley was on hand to dot down. Sligo ahead by six, 13-7. Stones scoring is inevitable sometimes, the Ulstermen with a penalty to the left corner and from their lineout maul Oli Clarke did what he tends to do and that’s score tries from the driving maul, McMaster with the extras, Instonians ahead 14-13 at the break.
As the second half wore on the conditions continued to play their part, Instonians found the mark to increase their advantage. Shades of their second try, another lineout on the Sligo 5m line, the drive finished by Clarke, McMaster unable to add the conversion. Sligo had little chances in the Instonians half but they did manage a third try and it was a thing of beauty, after some intense pressure, a cross field kick from Leszczynski allowed Phillip Carter to dot in the corner, the gap back to a point.
Sligo put Instonians under pressure and as they inched closer to the line, the maul was brought down and Sligo went to the corner. Again they drove and again it was pulled down, the referee with no hesitation needed, penalty try to Sligo and a slice of cheddar for an Instonians man to enjoy in the sin bin. The Ulsterside never gave up and with time running out a crucial penalty again on halfway allowed them to find the corner, their driving maul perfect again and Jonathan Millken touching down. Instonians a point behind as McMaster steadied the conversion attempt, the strike drifting wide and to the relief of Sligo it was enough. What a game, Instonians need seven points to secure the title.
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.