Ulster Bank All Ireland League
1st XV vs BALLYMENA (39 – 13)
A very impressive performance by Dungannon. They were much sharper than Ballymena and the enterprise of the pack coupled with some great running by the threequarters made this a memorable afternoon for the Dungannon contingent at Eaton Park particularly when young Stuart McCloskey raced over for the bonus point try.
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Ballymena had the advantage of breeze and sun in the first half but Dungannon drew first blood when the immaculate Michael Lawton stroked over a thirty metre penalty from well out on the right in the fifth minute.
Four minutes later a Ballymena infringement on their ten metre line saw Michael repeat the punishment.
Then on thirteen minutes John Semple kicked penalty from just inside the Dungannon ten metre line.
3 – 6
Dungannon had dominated the opening quarter hour and when James McMahon made a break up to the Ballymena twenty-two Adam Duhig was up in support to feed Chris Cochrane who put Conor Gaston over in the corner in the fifteenth minute. Michael Lawton’s conversion was beautifully judged.
3 – 13
Following a strong run out of defence from Mark O’Shea Dungannon won another penalty, Michael Lawton was just short with a fifty metre effort. Jaryd Bennett combined with Chris Cochrane to bring play up to the Ballymena twenty-two. Dungannon turned the screw with surges from Barker, Farquhar and Birch. When Luke Marshall was caught offside when he intercepted right in front of the Ballymena posts Lawton added the points on thirty-one minutes.
3 – 16
Poor work at the restart gave Ballymena the advantage and when they won a penalty on thirty-five minutes John Semple converted to reduce the deficit to ten points.
6 – 16
Poor decision making by Ballymena and good Dungannon defence kept the gap at ten pints. Then some poor decision making by Dungannon almost gave Ballymena the advantage. A good Ballymena attack was only thwarted when Kieran Campbell and Conor Gaston combined to force Roger McBurney out of play as he went for the touch down. Dungannon duly cleared their lines before a Rowan Halsall tackle turned over possession and put Gannon on the front foot again in the run up to half time.
With the advantage of the breeze in the second half Dungannon started brightly Good play between McMahon, Halsall and Sinnamon allowed Kieran Campbell to set Tim Barker off on a bullocking run. Subsequently several Braidmen were caught offside and Michael Lawton dispatched his fourth penalty in the first minute of the half. On forty-nine minutes Ross Hackney was pinged not releasing and Michael added the points from thirty-five metres out on the left.
6 – 22
Dungannon pressurised from the restart and when Ballymena were penalised for having hands where they should not have been the penalty put them inside the Ballymena twenty-two. Ballymena defended a series of Dungannon attacks and won a scrum inside their twenty-two. The Dungannon scrum disrupted Ballymena and when they tried to run it Ali Birch turned over possession and somehow muscled his way over from ten metres out for an unbelievable try. Michael Lawton converted in the fifty-eighth minute for his nineteenth point of the afternoon.
6 – 29
A clever bit of work from Ballymena saw Richard Aingworth make forty yards up to the Dungannon twenty-two. Then quick hands from Campbell and Bennett got Dungannon on the move again. Conor Gaston cut a furrow through the Ballymena defence before sending Chris Cochrane away for a fine try after sixty-two minutes.
6 – 34
Good work from the Dungannon pack had Ballymena on the back foot again and runs from Captain Jenkinson and Tim Barker caused a certain amount of concern to the Eaton Park supporters. When Stuart McCloskey got possession in his own half nothing much seemed on but when he put the accelerator down Ballymena were in a certain amount of disarray. With the ghostly figure of Chris Cochrane darting along beside McCloskey and threatening to go either way the run went on and on into the Ballymena twenty-two. The young man just kept on going and with a final burst crashed over for the try of the afternoon after sixty-seven minutes. This try sealed the bonus point for Dungannon
6 – 39
Another Halsall run assisted by Paul Jackson and Phil Whyte was halted. Then after seventy-four minutes Ballymena’s winger Roger McBurney went over for a try converted by John Semple.
13 – 39
For Ballymena this might have been too little too late but they did not give up and Blane McIlroy broke away and looked good for a try until Mark O’Shea brought off a great try saving tackle to bundle McIlroy into touch. Dungannon went on the offensive again as referee Gaffikin blew for time.
A great performance from Dungannon and one that pleased the supporters and kept the pressure on at top of the Ulster Bank League. Fitzy was delighted with the effort the boys put in and the way they played throughout the match.
On the 28th we welcome UL Bohemian to Stevenson Park. As the saying goes, “The reward for hard work is more hard work.” The win at Ballymena will count for little if we do not capitalise on home advantage and make it count against the men from Limerick. See you on Saturday 28th.
Team: Conor Gaston. Michael Lawton. Christopher Cochrane, Stuart McCloskey, Mark O’Shea. Jaryd Bennett, Kieran Campbell. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson (Capt), Tim Barker. James McMahon, Rowan Halsall, Ali Birch. Paul Jackson, Philip Whyte, Timothy Smith, Derek Hall, David Egner,
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (Ballynahinch)
Tries: Conor Gaston, Ali Birch, Christopher Cochrane & Stuart McCloskey
Conversions: Michael Lawton (5)
Penalties: Michael Lawton (2)
2nd XV vs Letterkenny (41 – 12)
Kukri Conference League
Letterkenny 12 Dungannon 41
After a gap of thirty-three years Dungannon IIs returned to play against Letterkenny.
After a very disciplined journey to County Donegal the Dungannon pack were given a rude welcome by their Letterkenny counterparts before Letterkenny opened the scoring after an extraordinary scrum.
5 – 0
Dungannon then gathered themselves and as Letterkenny ran the ball an intercept near halfway saw Ben Howard buffalo his way up to the Letterkenny line. Some quick thinking by Ben, as with a shimmy hitck kick and dummy, he mesmerised the chasing Letterkenny player and bought himself that extra fraction of a second to make the extra yards for a winder score. According to Ben it was a ninety metre run but colleagues credit him with sixty which is quite impressive for number 1.
5 – 5
Junior Vice President Paul Magee then finished off a good backs move with a try in the corner.
5 – 10
John McGuckin, getting his legs back after an injury layoff beat a couple of players as he went in under the bar for a self converted try.
5 – 17
Then Darren ‘Dazzler’ Simpson raced away for a try from his own twenty-two. John McGuckin converted.
5 – 24
Letterkenny then ran in their second try which was converted.
12 – 24
Ben Howard then added a more tradition try when he peeled off a ruck and barged over.
12 – 29
Another player making a welcome return after injury, Michael Kirkwood, broke through at halfway, sold a dummy and raced away for a try converted by John McGuckin.
12 – 36
The last try came from Dazzler, a chip out of defence by Letterkenny was fielded by Darren who powered over for the try.
12 – 41.
Coach Pater Kennedy was full of praise for his players and PK and all the boys were full of compliments for the hospitality provided by Letterkenny.
Team: Darren Simpson. Brian Simpson, Paul Magee, Stuart Lester, Alan Cummings. John McGuckin, Michael Kirkwood. Ben Howard, Neil McGinley, Mark Thompson. Rodney Blair, Paul McCarroll. Robin McCleary, Callum Threlfall, Peter Smith.
Referee: Michael Pickles (Enniskillen)
Tries: Ben Howard (2), Paul Magee, Darren Simpson (2) & John McGuckin
Conversions: John McGuckin (3)
Penalties:
