Terenure Break Duck In Eight-Try Thriller

Terenure College and UCD both racked up try-scoring bonus points in an eight-try thriller that went ‘Nure’s way – 31-24 – at Lakelands Park.

James Blaney's men lifted themselves off the bottom of the Ulster Bank League Division 1A table, with flanker Robert Duke's brace of tries helping them to bounce back from a 29-5 drubbing by Lansdowne.

Terenure made five changes to the side that lost at the Aviva Stadium, with Sam Coghlan Murray and captain Kyle McCoy heading their list of absentees.

UCD were also without some of their Leinster contingent – most notably Nick McCarthy and Barry Daly, who were both on the bench for Leinster, while Andrew Porter, Jeremy Loughman and Will Connors were missing from the pack.

'Nure deservedly led 16-7 at half-time, Mark O'Neill and James O'Donoghue getting the plaudits for their interplay in the build-up to winger Robbie Murphy's opening try which went unconverted.

UCD were 13 points behind by the 23-minute mark, Jake Swaine landing a penalty and quick turnover ball saw Swaine grubber through for blindside Duke to ground Terenure's second try.

Ireland Under-20 captain James Ryan led UCD's response, carrying strongly and offloading for centre Jimmy O'Brien to speed through the middle and snap back seven points in the 34th minute. A late Swaine penalty gave 'Nure a nine-point cushion to take into the second half.

Swaine made it 19-7 early on the resumption, but a multi-phase attack from UCD wore down the home defence for full-back Tom Fletcher to touch down on the right. Fit-again Leinster Academy out-half Ross Byrne, who came on as a replacement, could not convert.

It was Terenure's turn to have a purple patch and they strung together two tries to secure their bonus point with 20 minutes remaining. While UCD's Peadar Timmins was in the bin, an advancing maul ended with openside James O'Neill crossing for the hosts.

Duke grabbed his second try of the day, five minutes later, showing his pace again to get on the end of a kick through from winger Stephen O'Neill. Swaine's conversion made it 31-12 before UCD fought hard to take home two bonus points.

Ryan got over for a deserved score, converted by Tim Foley, and then with 'Nure hooker Adam Clarkin yellow carded, the visitors fed Ireland Sevens international Harry McNulty to finish in the corner. There were no further tries in a tense conclusion, though, as 'Nure deservedly prevailed by seven points.

Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)