Dungannon fail to fire in All-Ireland League
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Dungannon’s Tim Barker gets a grip on a Bohs forward at Stevenson Park
Dungannon 12 UL Bohemians 20.
ON a day when the top six sides played each other Dungannon failed to fire at Stevenson Park. Instead, it was UL Bohemians who bossed the show scoring a try in each half to take the spoils in a rather penalty strewn contest.
It was a big disappointment for the home fans who were looking forward to a home win and a place at the top of the table. Dungannon did start well and a well struck penalty per Michael Lawton made it 3-0 on the third minute. Ed Torrie then brought the sides level in similar fashion on the sixth minute. The Dungannon pack then drove forward but the Bohs defence held firm. Then two successive penalties took the Limerick men to a lineout 10 metres out.
The catch was clean and the ball was quickly flashed out wide for centre Martin McPhail to race in on the 15th minute. Torrie added the extras before Dungannon replied with another Lawton penalty.
The 'ding dong' battle continued in the second quarter. Adam Duhig was penalised for an early tackle and Bohs moved forward before another award saw Torrie split the uprights on 23 minutes. Dungannon replied with another forward surge but just as Kieran Campbell tried to set the backs in motion there were so many opponents offside the referee had no option but to award a simple penalty that Lawton banged over on 28 minutes. Bohs then dominated for the remainder of the half but failed to add to their 13-9 lead.
The Limerick men were penalised at the restart and Lawton landed a huge penalty to leave Dungannon just one point adrift.
However, Bohs dominance continued but minor errors stifled progress in a rather erratic start to the second half. Lawton did have a chance to put the home side ahead with another penalty before Bohs turned the screw up front.
Their pack kept Dungannon pinned inside their own 22 until the ball was sent out wide for McPhail to send winger, Rory White racing in at the posts. Torrie converted and Bohs now had a crucial 8 point lead on the hour mark. Frustration led to a couple of scuffles in the final quarter with first Dungannons' Paul Jackson getting a yellow card and he was followed soon afterwards by Bohs' Dave Foley. It did nothing to improve the standard in the closing stages as Dungannon tried hard to salvage a losing bonus point before Bohs ran out deserved 20-12 winners.
Dungannon:- Conor Gaston, Michael Lawton, Chris Cochrane, Stuart McCloskey, Mark O'Shea, Jaryd Bennett, Kieran Campbell, Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar, Tim Barker, Mark Jenkinson(capt), Ali Birch, Rowan Halsall, James McMahon.
Michael Kirkwood, Paul Jackson, Callum Threlfall, Derek Hall, Phil Whyte.
UL Bohemians:- Darren Moroney, Finbar Aherne, Martin McPhail, Niall Kinneally, Rory White, Ed Torrie, Cathal Sheridan, David Kilcoyne, Eddie Rossitor, Kevin Flanagan, Ed Kelly(capt), Dave Foley, Conor Kindragan, Kevin McManus, Sean Rennisson.
Garry Walsh, Tadgh Power, Brian Walsh, Dale Harris, Dereck Farrell.
Referee: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Schools Cup
Portadown College 19 Royal School Dungannon 20
Dungannon Royal School are through to the 4th round of the Schools Cup but it took a gallant second half fight back and a try in the dying seconds to see off Portadown College at Chambers Park on Saturday morning. No one expected such a dramatic finish when the Portadown lads roared into a 12 point lead in the opening seven minutes. First it was sturdy right winger, Matthew Trouton who forced his way over in the corner on 5 minutes. Spurred on by the 5 point lead it was a case of more of the same as Portadown kept the back line moving until out-half, Andrew Steele broke clear for Michael Busby to convert. All credit to RSD they settled after that and when a high tackle halted a back movement Jack Milligan stepped up to the tee and fired over the resultant penalty on 18 minutes. RSD were now showing signs of improvement with Robert McLean making a good run. The College hit back and it took a timely tackle to save the Royal line. However, it was RSD who finished the half on top with David Davidson catching the rebound from his own chip ahead before Peter Cashel was stopped in the corner.
RSD trailed 3-12 as the second half got underway with Stephen Rogers and Andrew Clingan leading some mighty drives into Portadown territory. Then, when the ball was released it moved out to the right for McLean to crash over in the corner to put the visitors back in the game at 8-12. Portadown responded briefly with Trouton taking play into Dungannon 22. However, the RSD pack kept possession well before scrum-half, Jake Finlay broke from defence taking play to the other end. The pack then took control and some driving ended with Rogers crashing over midway through the half. Davidson converted for a first time 15-12 lead. The RSD supporters were now in buoyant mood but Ports were not finished and when centre David Busby punted through the visitors defence he won the chase for a try at the posts five minutes later. Twin brother Michael added the conversion putting the College back into the lead at 19-15. With 10 minutes remaining could RSD come back a second time? It seemed a long wait but all credit to them a forward surge clinched the issue when Clingan dived over in the dying seconds. The conversion failed but it mattered little, as the final whistle sounded leaving RSD 20-19 winners.
RSD Team:- David Davidson, Stuart Moore, Robert McLean, Jacob McCammon, Peter Cashel, Jack Milligan, Jake Finlay, Adam Clarke, Jamie McNeill, Andrew Clingan (capt), David Leyburn, William Graham, Peter Gilkinson, Mark Wright, Stephen Rogers. Subs: David Buckley, Zack Farrell, Gordon Stewart, Matthew Montgomery, Andrew Mills, Daniel Vance, Anson Chin, Jonny Wright.
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