Bennett accuracy builds platform for Shannon raid
Sunday December 13 2009
Clontarf 13
Shannon 21
Shannon left Castle Avenue with the spoils thanks to two first-half tries and the boot of Tadgh Bennett.
Ireland 'A' star Felix Jones was at the heart of both scores, scoring the first before setting up a second for Stephen Kelly.
Darragh O'Shea kicked 'Tarf back into contention before half-time. Bennett's boot made the gap 18-11 before Martin Dufficy's try looked to have given the hosts a bonus, but their hopes were dimmed by a superb Bennett drop goal.
Clontarf -- M Dufficy try, con, D O'Shea 2 pens. Shannon -- F Jones, S Kelly try each, T Bennett dg, 2 pens, con.
Blackrock College 6
Dolphin 12
Dolphin's Munster men were to the fore as the Cork side finished off 2009 on a high at Stradbrook.
Blackrock's early-season form has deserted them, but they had the consolation of a bonus thanks to James Power's penalty as tries either side of half-time from back rows Nick Williams and James Coughlan did the damage.
Scorers -- Blackrock College: I Madigan, J Power pen each. Dolphin: N Williams, J Coughlan try each; B Keeshan con.
Cork Con 16
St Mary's Col 9
St Mary's College still remain on top of the division after securing a losing bonus point at Temple Hill.
Two penalties from Gavin Dunne gave the visitors an early lead. Scott Deasy opened Con's account with a penalty to leave it 6-3 at half time.
A try by Stephen Archer, which Deasy converted, put the home side in front and a second penalty from Deasy and a drop goal by Darragh Lyons extended their lead.
Dunne secured the bonus point with his third penalty six minutes from time.
Scorers -- Cork Constitution: S Archer try; S Deasy 2 pens, con; D Lyons dg
St Mary's College: G Dunne 3 pens.
UL Bohemian 5
Garryowen 9
There was no Christmas cheer for UL Bohemian at a sparsely attended Thomond Park last night.
A penalty by Conor Murray gave Garryowen the lead but they had to wait until the 38th minute to extend their advantage when Willie Staunton dropped a goal.
UL came back into the game after 55 minutes when fullback Ed Torrie went over far out to leave only a point between them. But Garryowen had the final say when Staunton landed a penalty.
Scorers -- UL Bohemian: E Torrie, try. Garryowen: W Staunton, pen, dg; C Murray pen.
GALWEGIANS 9
YOUNG MUNSTER 16
Young Munster cemented their position in second place in Division 1B at Crowley Park.
They made the breakthrough on 65 minutes when winger Derek Corcoran touched down under the posts for the only try of the game.
O'Beirn gave 'Wegians hope with he landed another penalty soon after, but this was cancelled out by another Kingsley penalty which ensured that the Cookies took the points back to Limerick.
Scorers --Galwegians: R O'Beirn 2 pens; D Clarke pen Young Munster: D Corcoran try; A Kingsley 3 pens, con.
UCC 25
Buccaneers 6
Failing to take their chances in the opening half with the advantage of a strong wind denied bottom-placed Buccaneers anything from this tie at the Mardyke.
Scrum-half Adam Kennedy was off target with four penalty attempts in the opening quarter but did find the posts seven minutes before half-time.
By that time College had raced into a 10-0 lead with an intercept try by Brian Dennehy and a conversion and penalty by Andrew Burke.
Kennedy did reduce the deficit with a penalty early in the second half, but tries by Sean Scanlon and Ivan Dineen, a penalty by Burke and a conversion by Scanlon made sure of the points.
Scorers -- UCC: S Scanlon try, con; B Dennehy, I Dineen try each; A Burke 2 pens, con Buccaneers: A Kennedy 2 pens.
Ballynahinch 10
Old Belvedere 28
Old Belvedere fully deserved their win at Bally Macarn Park.
Eoin Devitt ran in two excellent tries while their No 8 Auva'a scored the third. Ballynahinch, meanwhile, could only contribute the one try which came from Rocky Greer.
Scorers -- Ballynahinch: R Greer try; R Banbry pen, con Old Belvedere: E Devitt 2 tries; L Auva'a try, C Keane 3 pens, 2 cons.
Dungannon 15
Ballymena 21
Ballymena clinched a victory they fully deserved over Dungannon four minutes into added on time at Stevenson Park.
Dungannon led 9-7 at the halfway stage and all their points were kicked by James Shiells. Ballymena fought back towards the end after trailing 7-15 when David O'Hara added the points to late tries from Stephen Castle and Andrew Kerr.
Scorers -- Dungannon: J Shiells 3 pens, 2 dg Ballymena: S McKinney, S Castle, A Kerr try each; D O'Hara 3 cons.
- AIL Division 1A AIL Division 1B
Originally published in
