Belvedere Make It Three Out Of Three
Old Belvedere climbed up to second place in the Division One table thanks to a two-try burst at Anglesea Road on Saturday afternoon.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, October 18
OLD BELVEDERE 16 DOLPHIN 11, Anglesea Road
Scorers: Old Belvedere: Tries: Eddie Devitt, Ruairi Cushion; Pens: Kieran Hurrell 2
Dolphin: Try: James Coughlan; Pens: Barry Keeshan 2
Belvo made it three league wins on the bounce as winger Eddie Devitt and scrum half Ruairi Cushion broke through for second half tries.
Dolphin, who held off a second half surge from UL Bohemians last Sunday, could not repeat that feat as a high tackle count took its toll.
The young legs of the Belvedere back-line also hit Dolphin down the final stretch, as promising backs like full-back Felix Jones, centre Eoin O’Malley and man-of-the-match Cushion attacked with vigour.
Belvedere had initially named Andy Dunne in their starting line-up but he played on Friday night for Connacht, so newcomer Kieran Hurrell got the nod at number 10.
And Hurrell kicked two penalties in the opening half to have the Dubliners 6-5 ahead at half-time.
Munster number 8 James Coughlan, who went on a number of rampaging runs early on, barged his way through for a try for Dolphin.
The Cork side enjoyed a strong start to the second half as their out-half Barry Keeshan kicked them into a 46th-minute lead.
But Belvo, with new coach Phil Werahiko willing them on, did not panic and within seven minutes, Devitt was following up on a kick through to score in the left corner.
That made it 11-8 to the hosts and just past the hour mark, Cushion sniped over in the right corner after his forwards, including influential captain Richie Leyden, had mauled their way to within sight of the line.
Hurrell could not convert either try but Dolphin were kept at bay for the remainder until Keeshan rescued a point for them with an injury-time penalty.