AIL Roundup: Division 2B Round 9

Instonains remained atop the 2B Christmas Tree as we head to the break, elsewhere Rainey closed the gap to fourth placed Sligo while Malahide jumped out of the relegation zone.

Sligo (1T) 11-15 Galway Corinthians (2T), Hamilton Park

Galway Corinthians had to battle past a stern Sligo outfit to take the points in Hamilton Park and keep their recent winning run unblemished.

Euan Brown gave Sligo an early 3-0 lead but Corinthians replied with John Devine crossing for the games opening try which went unconverted. Brown regained the lead for Sligo with his second penalty, a serious error at the back however gave Corinthians and Devine a second try before the break, Dylan Keane converting for a 12-6 lead.

Keane struck an early second half penalty to further the visitors advantage in the contest, as the half wore on Sligo put everything into getting back on the scoresheet. Julian Leszczynski powered over for the hosts, enough for a losing bonus point as they failed to notch a further score.

Wanderers (5T) 39-17 Skerries (2T), Merrion Road

Wanderers kept up their recent impressive run of form getting past their Dublin neighbours Skerries with plenty of action on show in Merrion Road.

The hosts got out of the blocks well as Fionn Finlay and Caomhan Brennan crossed for tries which David Fitzgibbon converted for a 14-0 lead. Ronan Mulcahy replied for Skerries and they trailed 14-7 at the break as Mulcahy converted his try.

Mulcahy cut the gap to four from a penalty before Paul O’Loghlen sent a crossfield kick and Kevin McGrath dotted down for the second try, Mulcahy converting for Skerries to take the lead 17-14.

Fitzgibbon levelled the game with a penalty, minutes later Sean Goodburn went over and Fitzgibbon converted as Wanderers moved back ahead 24-17. Fitzgibbon was accurate again to put ten between the sides, Finlay added a second try soon after before Popoai Finau capped off the result with a fifth try at the death.

Instonians (9T) 63-22 Belfast Harlequins (3T), Shaws Bridge

Instonians ended 2023 unbeaten as their second half performance powered their way to victory over Belfast Harlequins.

A Belfast derby that never once lacked intensity, Instonians struck first as David Whitten went over and Ruairi O’Farrell converted. Quins soon took the momentum, Ben Alexander went over for their opening try that went unconverted, Charlie Beattie soon added three from a penalty for the lead.

It remained the way of Quins as an intercept try put Chris Larmour over for their second try minutes later, beattie accurate and the lead 15-7 for the visitors. Instonians hit back with the power of Max Preston and Oli Clarke, combined with the boot of O’Farrell restored the lead for the hosts minutes later.

Beattie added a try of his own and the conversion which followed from the young out-half nudged Quins back ahead. Instonians secured their 27th bonus point in a row shy of the break Clarke with his second try and O’Farrell converted for a 28-22 half-time lead.

The second half was all the way of the hosts. Whitten added his second soon after the break, Schalke Van der Merwe, Ian Whitten, Ritchie McMaster and a penalty try adding to their scores in the second period, O’Farrell with the opening two conversions of that second half surge before McMaster slotted the others. Harlequins dropping to ninth place after the defeat.

Malahide (5T) 30-24 Dolphin (4T), Estuary Road

Malahide are out of the drop zone as they had enough in the tank to leave it late to get past a stern Dolphin test in Estuary Road.

Malahide drew first blood with an unconverted try from Nick McCarthy but Alex Pope went over for Dolphin to level minutes later. The Dubliners continued however to have a solid opening half and a penalty combined with a second try coming from Dan Hayes which again was unconverted gave the hosts a 13-5 lead at the break.

A third try early in the second half from Mickey Tyrell saw Malahide continue their charge, however Cameron O’Shaughnessy and Craig O’Connell crossed for ties, the latter converted by Daryl Foley for an 18-17 score line. Malahide swung the first punch in the final rounds of the contest with their bonus point try as Lee Byrne crossed, the conversion putting eight between the sides, O’Connell added a second try to give Dolphin a bonus point of their own, Foley putting one between them with a conversion.

The hosts hit the knockout blow late on their fifth try from Red Hansen saw the conversion hit the upright but it was enough for a much needed win to end a four game losing streak.

Rainey Old Boys (4T) 27-16 Dungannon (2T), Hatrick Park

Rainey moved to fifth spot in the table as they took the Ulster derby bragging rights in Hatrick Park.

Dungannon took the lead as Andrew McGregor was not happy wasting time to get a tee on the field for Jacob Clarke and instead drop kicked a penalty for a 3-0 lead. Rainey replied through scrum half Lorcan Quinn crossing for the games opening try which went unconverted.

Momentum stayed with the hosts Scott McLean furthered the lead with a penalty and on the 35 minute mark Ronan McCusker drove over for a second try and McLean converted for a 15-3 lead. James McMahon crossed for Dungannon soon after, the conversion from Clarke struck the upright, the gap 15-8 at the break.

Clarke struck a penalty ten minutes into the second half to cut the gap to four points, after some confusion as to which team was awarded a penalty, Gannon saw yellow as James Gamble was shown a slice of cheese and the game swung on its head.

Rainey hit touch and a driving maul saw Tim Barker add their third try. Rainey took control and soon after Moli Faiva used his immense burst of speed to run over 70 metres to touch down under the posts, McLean converting for a 27-11 lead. Daniel Mikolajczyk crossed for a consolation try for the visitors after 73 minutes, not enough to kickstart a fightback to snatch a bonus point however.

More Info on Division 2B here.