Home Comfort For Buoyant Bruff

The result continues Bruff's impressive run of form and has seen Eoin Cahill's side jump from fifth to third in the Division 1B standings.

They led 6-0 after a breathless opening 19 minutes, thanks to a brace of penalties from Brian Cahill, who again formed a watertight centre partnership with his brother, player-coach Eoin.

Cahill missed a 22nd minute shot at the posts but from the restart, Bruff regained possession and the pack worked their way into the Dungannon 22 from where scrum half Eoghan Maher raced clear for a try which Cahill converted.

Paddy Jackson, who played for the Ireland Under-20s recently against Italy, succeeded with a penalty attempt just before half-time for a 13-3 scoreline.

Dungannon had created some decent chances in the opening half, the best of which saw flanker Rowan Halsall driving towards the Bruff try-line. The ball was recycled but then knocked on as Bruff's defence soaked up the pressure.

Into the second half, charging run from hooker Adam Duhig was spoilt by some mishandling and 'Gannon blew an inviting overlap on the right.

Four minutes after the break, Bruff cut the Dungannon defence open again for their second try. Hooker and captain Cathal O'Regan was the scorer, notching his third try of the league campaign.

Out-half Tony Cahill kicked the ball downfield, it bounced for the onrushing Brendan Deady and Paul O'Brien to raid through and after Bruff retained possession, the next phase saw O'Regan diving over for an unconverted try.

A 70th minute try from Dungannon centre Glen Telford, which Jackson converted, kept the game alive at 18-10.

But Bruff, who meet Lansdowne next weekend in a repeat of last season's Division 2 final, wrestled back control of the game and a 75th minute penalty from Tony Cahill settled the issue.

While Bruff were left to celebrate their fourth league victory on the trot, 'Gannon will have to regroup quickly for the visit of high-flying Buccaneers next weekend.