AIL Roundup: Division 2B Round 3

Instonians remained top of the summit in 2B after three rounds of action, building a four point lead over the chasing pack.

Dungannon (4T) 26-27 (3T) Belfast Harlequins, Stevenson Park

Belfast Harlequins took the local derby bragging rights having survived a late Dungannon fightback to win by a single point.

Harlequins crossed after 13 minutes for the games opening try, their lead went to double digits as a 20 minute penalty put ten between the sides. After the half hour mark the visitors were in for their second try, no sooner had the conversion went over, they raced in the third, a 24-0 lead going into the break.

Dungannon needed the next score, into the second half James Gamble crossed after ten minutes but the conversion went wide. When Quins were reduced to 14 following a yellow card, Gamble added a second try and Clarke this time found the posts to make it 24-12.

Inside the final eight minutes a penalty stretched the lead for the visitors, however another yellow card near the end of normal time saw Clakre take advantage to cross twice, kicking both conversions he left one point as the margin, time just not on their hands but they did leave with two bonus points.

Galway Corinthians (8T) 56-7 Malahide (1T), Corinthian Park

Following their first defeat of the season last weekend, Galway Corinthians put in a statement performance to take a bonus one in a one sided contest in Corinthian Park.

Max Flynn sniped early for the hosts as Sean Naughton landed the extras, he would have a busy opening half. Corinthians ran in five more tries in the half, Matthew Devine crossed for the second which Naughton converted, Naughton helped himself to the third try minutes later and kept his record from the tee.

Devine added the bonus try before Rory McCleane and Grellan Murray crossed for further tries, Naughton with six perfect conversions to put a gap of 42 between them at the break. Malahide would get on the board early in the second half with a converted try, a brace of tries from Harry Rogers capped off a dominant display from Corinthians. 

Rainey Old Boys 28-61 Instonians, Hatrick Park

Instonians stretched their unbeaten streak to 21 straight wins all adding a bonus point along the way with a strong result in Magherafelt.

From a lineout on their own five metre line, Rainey notched the opening score of the contest, Instoians won possession but a turnover saw Moli Faiva run the length of the pitch to touch down for a 7-0 lead. Bradley Mcnamara replied in the corner after 15 minutes of action but the conversion cracked the post. 

After the hosts missed a penalty, Rob Whitten crossed for the second Instonians try and Ritchie McMaster wth his second conversion attempt found the mark for a 12-7 lead. Shortly after the half hour mark, Matthew Keane crossed for the third try following a number of phases after a strong lineout, McMaster making it 19-7 from the sideline. The score remained the same until the break.

Four minutes into the second half Neil Saulters added the bonus, their lineout is a key weapon and Saulters is a key asset when it comes to try scoring, McMaster putting a 19 point gap between the teams. 

As we approached the hour mark Instonians were at their sparking best, Schalk Van Der Merwe, Ruauri O’Farrell, Bradley McNamara and Bev Prinsloo all crossing before the hour mark to stretch the gap to 54-7. Mcmaster struck one conversion before Keane assumed the kicking duties, kicking three from three.

Rainey got their second try after the hour mark and as it looked like the comeback was on, Anton Lupari crossed for try number nine after 68 minutes. The hosts would add a late brace of tries, with Faiva adding a bonus point near the end.

Skerries (3T) 25-15 Dolphin (3T), Holmpatrick

After two defeats to start their 2B campaign, Skerries got a win on the board with a hard fought result against Dolphin, Ronan Mulcahy inspiring the goats to victory.

With 20 intense minutes elapsed, Peter O’Neill slipped under the posts for the games opening try, Ronan Mulcahy added the extras before landing a penalty a short while later for a 10-0 lead. Skerries continued their exploits and after kicking up the field, the ball fell to the hands of Mulcahy to cross again under the posts for the second try, the conversion was academic for a 17-0 lead. Mulcahy was on form and his second penalty stretched the margin to 20 points going into the break.

As the second hla got underway both sides exchanged tries, Kevin McGrath going over for Skerries, Cillian Ansboro with one for the Cork side, both with unconverted. Dolphin hit back in the second stanza, Ansboro grabbed a second try with John Fitzgerald bagging a third, but as the conversion drew wide, Skerries were able to breathe and see out the contest in the end.

Sligo (5T) 33-43 Wanderers (7T), Hamilton Park (Strandhill)

Wanderers leapfrogged Sligo in the standings with a bonus point win over their Connacht adversaries in round three.

It was all the way of the Dubliners in the early exchanges, powering over two converted tries before Daire Byrne worked a response to cut the gap to seven after Euan Brown kicked the conversion. Wanderers however would add a third in the corner to lead 19-7 at half time. 

A short while after the restart for the second half the bonus point followed for the visitors. And after pouncing on a breaking ball that was sliced through the Sligo rearguard, the fifth Wanderers try soon followed. After the visitors were reduced to 14 men Sligo grabbed a second try with Brown converting to make it 33-14.

Wanderers added their sixth and seventh tries either side of Philip Carter crossing for the hosts. Sligo would grab a valuable bonus point try and almost added a losing bonus when Kuba Wojtkowicz added a fifth try late on, Brown converted but Sligo could not add resulting points to snatch a losing bonus.

More Info on 2B available here