Ulster Bank All Ireland League
Dungannon shot back into contention for Ulster Bank League honours with this superb bonus point win over UCC at the Mardyke.
It all started with an early try from leading try scorer, Chris Cochrane who took a long pass from Paul McKenzie before gliding in at the corner. Michael Lawton, who had a 100% record from the tee added the difficult conversion.
0 – 7
UCC settled after that and the remainder of the opening quarter was fairly even with Michael Lawton landing two penalties that were cancelled out in similar fashion by the student’s skipper, Brian Kingston.
6 – 13
Dungannon continued to press forward but a promising attack was scuppered when Joe Holland intercepted and ran all the way to the posts. Kingston’s conversion was a formality and the students were back on level terms.
13 – 13
On thirty-five minutes Dungannon nudged ahead again following a searing break from Michael Kirkwood. UCC infringed and Michael Lawton fired over his third penalty. A series of scrums close to the UCC line ended with James McMahon picking up and diving over for Lawton to convert at the end of the first half.
13 – 23
Steady rain greeted the start of the second half but it did not stop Dungannon starting on the front foot. A notable break from Paul McKenzie paved the way for big Mark Jenkinson to crash over. Lawton again added the extras
13 – 30
All credit to the students they hit back and a lengthy period of pressure on the Dungannon line paid off. A ‘sin binning’ helped the student cause with Luke Cahill diving over for Kingston to convert on fifty-five minutes.
20 – 30
Now just ten points adrift the Cork men could not close the gap as Dungannon swooped for the bonus point try in the final quarter. It was ‘try of the match’ and it started with a Rowan Halsall break before Callum Threlfall carried the ball forward into the students’ twenty-two. Adam Duhig then acted as linkman before Jason Bloomfield touched down at the posts. Michael Lawton popped over the conversion and Dungannon looked assured of victory
20 – 37
UCC had the final say though when back row man, Brian O’Callaghan raced in for a try that Kingston converted.
27 – 37
This win means that Dungannon remain in touch with the leaders but spare a thought for the struggling students. They just can’t get out of the basement and look likely to take the drop into Division IIA.
One talking point after the game was the outstanding loyalty to the Club shown by Chris Cochrane who played the final twenty minutes for Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night before driving all the way to Cork to help the ‘blue and whites’. For the record, in both games he scored a try after just three minutes on the pitch!
Team: Michael Lawton. Mark O’Shea, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane. Jaryd Bennett, Michael Kirkwood. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson (Capt), Timothy Smith. Callum Threlfall, Rowan Halsall, James McMahon. Paul Jackson, Philip Whyte, Paul McCarroll, Jason Bloomfield, David Egner
Referee: John Carville
Tries: Christopher Cochrane, James McMahon, Mark Jenkinson & Jason Bloomfield.
Conversions: Michael Lawton (4)
Penalties: Michael Lawton (3)
