AIB League: Leaders Con Score Bonus Point Win
Cork Constitution maintained their seven-point advantage at the top of AIB League Division One as they ran four tries past Galwegians for a 29-16 win at Crowley Park on Saturday. There were also wins in the top flight for Blackrock College, Garryowen and Clontarf.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, March 3
Buccaneers 16 Cork Constitution 29, Dubarry Park
Scorers: Buccaneers: Try: Alex Hayman; Con: Tom Cregan; Pens: Cregan 2, Paul Warwick
Cork Con: Tries: Tim Ryan, Cronan Healy, Diarmuid O’Riordan, Tom Ryan; Cons: Dan Nethery 3; Pen: Nethery
Cork Constitution’s only trip to Connacht this season proved fruitful as the Division One leaders scored a handsome win at Dubarry Park.
Relegation-threatened Buccaneers conceded 15 points inside the first quarter-hour and they were always fighting a losing battle.
Con led 22-3 at half-time, with prop Tim Ryan and wingers Cronan Healy and Diarmuid O’Riordan scoring a try apiece.
Buccs had goal-kicker Tom Cregan sin-binned but they fought back well with winger Alex Hayman touching down.
Penalties from Paul Warwick and Cregan got the Pirates back to a 22-16 score line but a 78th-minute try from replacement prop Tom Ryan completed Con’s tenth league win.
Dungannon 24 Blackrock College 26, Stevenson Park
Scorers: Dungannon: Tries: Neil Patterson, Mark Neilly, Richard McCarter, Glen Telford; Cons: Richard McCarter 2
Blackrock: Tries: Fionn Carr 2, Richard Woods, Alan Henry; Cons: Carr 3
Blackrock College leaked four tries at Stevenson Park but still came up trumps thanks to a late 12-point salvo.
Dungannon lost at home for the first time in this season’s league despite leading by 24-14 with ten minutes to go.
‘Gannon, who trailed 14-12 at the break, were in prime position to record a hat-trick of league wins over ‘Rock thanks to tries from Neil Patterson, Mark Neilly, Richard McCarter and Glen Telford.
But the free-scoring Dubliners, led by 16-point full-back Fionn Carr, stole the win late on thanks to tries from Carr and winger Alan Henry.
Dolphin 14 Garryowen 34, Musgrave Park
Scorers: Dolphin: Tries: Gary O’Keeffe, Eric Moloney; Cons: Barry Keeshan 2
Garryowen: Tries: Anthony Kavanagh 3, Conor Kilroy, Damien Varley; Cons: Kilroy 3; Pen: Kilroy
Garryowen got themselves right back in the play-off hunt as flanker Anthony Kavanagh helped himself to three tries in their bonus point defeat of Dolphin.
Garryowen moved up to fifth in the Division One table as they got the better of their Munster rivals for the second time in three league meetings.
Tries from Conor Kilroy and Damien Varley shot the visitors into a 14-0 lead after only eight minutes’ play.
Dolphin fought back with Gary O’Keeffe scoring a converted try for a 22-7 half-time score line, but the Cork side could only strike once more through centre Eric Moloney.
Ballymena 6 Clontarf 36, Eaton Park
Scorers: Ballymena: Pens: David Drake 2
Clontarf: Tries: Simon Crawford, Daragh O’Shea, Derek Keane, Alan Trenier, Niall O’Brien, Magnus Coetzer; Cons: Conal Keane, Peter O’Brien 2
Clontarf went second in the Division One standings as they ran six tries past Ballymena at Eaton Park.
In what was a repeat of the 2003 top flight final, the Braidmen proved no match for Phil Werahiko’s multi-talented side.
Tries from Simon Crawford and Daragh O’Shea helped ‘Tarf into a 12-6 interval lead, with Conal Keane converting O’Shea’s effort and Ballymena scrum half David Drake kicking two penalties.
Last season’s top try scorer Derek Keane got off the mark and the floodgates opened for the Dubliners with Alan Trenier, Niall O’Brien and Magnus Coetzer all crossing the whitewash.