With one round left before the break, Instonians remained in the driving seat in 2B, Corinthians and Wanderers just behind. Elsewhere Dungannon and Skerries made up ground in the table.
Belfast Harlequins (2T) 12-41 Wanderers (6T), Deramore Park
Wanderers kept up their recent winning streak on the road in Belfast on Saturday amidst dismal weather conditions in Deramore Park.
Tries from Val McDermott, Stephen Dunne and Popoai Finau gave the visitors a 17-5 lead at the break. David Fitzgibbon managed to land one from three of those conversion attempts as the weather proved a factor from the off. Johnny McCracken getting Quins on the board in that half.
Ben Power crossed for the hosts in the second half converted by Charlie Beattie, the visitors however just had too much power in their ranks. Finau added a second try, while Caomhan Brennan and Martin O’Neill added tries also. Fitzgibbon converted all three and struck home a penalty for a successful day at the office.
Dolphin (3T) 21-69 Instonians (11T), Musgrave Park
It took the bones of 30 years for the two to meet again on Leeside, the outcome the same this time Instonians powering their way to one sided affair to keep that winning streak alive.
From the off the Belfast side took control, Gary Dillion crossed the whitewash for the opening try after five minutes, Ruairi Farrell converting for an early 7-0 scoreline. It remained one way traffic to the interval, David Whitten, Bradley McNamara, Bevan Prinsloo and Simon McMaster all driving over the line for scores, Farrell with two conversion attempts finding the mark, the lead 31-0 at the break.
Josh Eagleson was a half time change as Farrell moved to the nine, both were involved in the opening score as Farrell sniped over and Eagleson took up kicking duties to dissect the posts. David Whitten and McNamara continued to tick the scoreboard in Instonians favour before Alex Pope crossed for hosts, converted by Daryl Foley.
Prinsloo was next to snipe over for the Belfast side to grab a brace, Whitten completed his hat trick before Eagleson added the 11th try at the death. Brian O’Mahony and Craig O’Herlihy added further tries for Dolphin converted by Foley, three points separates them from Malahide in ninth and five from safety.
Dungannon (3T) 20-5 Malahide (1T), Stevenson Park
Dungannon picked up their first win since the opening round to move fifth in the table on a wash out of a day in Stevenson Park.
Malahide did take the early lead as Red Hansen touched down in the corner, Justin Leonard’s conversion fell ill of the elements. The weather continued to make life difficult but Dungannon held tough and Sean O’Hagan soon dove over to level the contest. Jacob Clarke with the lead from the tee, one they failed to lose from here on in. Peter Cashel finished well in the corner for the second Dungannon try and the lead was 14-5 at the break as Clarke nailed a super touchline conversion.
Clarke with the first of two second half penalties stretched the gap further minutes into the second half, Malahide kept pressing looking to find that chink in the Dungannon armour. The concession of a penalty 65 minutes in allowed Clarke to make it 15 to the good and despite their best moves in the final 15 the scoreboard failed to change.
Galway Corinthians (5T) 35-7 Rainey Old Boys (1T), Corinthian Park
Galway Corinthians continue to impress with a five win in succession keeping them in the title picture once again.
Michéal O’Reilly struck first blood for the hosts and Sean Naugton obliged with the conversion that followed, Rainey struck back as Louis Regan replied with a try converted on the touchline by Scott McLean. Orin Burke crossed the whitewash for a second Corinthians try and Naughton had the hosts 14-7 up at the interval.
The ever impressive Finn McNulty added an early second half brace of tries to secure the bonus point and put the Tribesmen 28-7 clear with Naughton again on the money. Oscar Garcia capped the result with a fifth try, Naughton five from five with conversions, Corinthians five off the leaders.
Skerries (2T) 14-14 Sligo (2T), Holmpatrick
Skerries battled from 14-0 down to take their third draw of the season on a blustery day in Holmpatrick.
It took until the half hour mark for the opening score to be registered, Phillip Carter going over for Sligo and with the breeze proving tricky Euan Brown nailed the touchline conversion. Garry Duffy soon added the second try and Brown again struck the extras between the posts as Sligo were ahead 14-0.
Skerries had the wind in their sails in the second half, Ross Dempsey crossed in the corner for their opening try, Ronan Mulcahy converted and the margin was back to seven. Mulcahy again proved the hero as he touched down the second try and with his conversion levelled proceedings and completed the comeback. Skerries up to seventh following the win.
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.