All Ireland League
There was a late surge at the Mardyke on Saturday when Dungannon conjured up a fourth try from fullback, Conor Gaston converted by Paddy Jackson to give the travellers two bonus points. UCC still took the spoils despite scoring just three tries and can thank the trusty boot of Andrew Burke who landed four penalties and three conversions for a personal total of eighteen points. Dungannon were full worth for the bonus points in a game that could have gone either way despite a harsh 3;1 penalty ratio in favour of the home side.
Dungannon’s first run with the ball ended in a high tackle on Craig Gilroy with Paddy Jackson slotting over the penalty. However, it was the students who settled quicker and one notable run down the right saw Olan Dennehy dive over in the corner. Burke landed the conversion and the students went 7-3 ahead. By the fifth minute it was 10-3 when Burke split the uprights with a penalty. All in all, a good start for UCC but Dungannon were showing signs of settling and threatened the home defence with several good runs involving Paul Magee, Glen Telford and Chris Cochrane.
19 Pictures, thanks to Roy Lawton & Dungannon RFC – CLICK HERE –
After thirteen minutes Dungannon were rewarded when Conor Gilroy broke clear to score half way out. Burke then added a penalty on fifteen minutes and that was followed by a period of pressure on the Dungannon line. Good work by Christopher Cochrane and Michael Kirkwood saw the danger cleared. On the half hour Dungannon appeared to have won a scrum but yet another penalty allowed Burke to make it 13-8.
From the restart Dungannon attacked down the middle but the UCC defence held out. Ironically once in possession they spilled the ball for quick thinking Magee to hack behind the home defence. Gilroy at speed, won the touch down for Jackson to convert. At 15-13 ahead Dungannon looked assured but the dismissal to the bin of Thomas Anderson saw Burke retrieve the lead for the students, 16-15, just before the break.
A grubber kick from Gaston put Dungannon into an attacking position before Jackson shot wide with a drop goal attempt. However, before the return of Anderson, UCC took advantage to create an overlap for Willie Walsh to score. Burke added the extras and then another penalty on fifty-five minutes for a flattering 26-15 lead.
Most of the final quarter belonged to the visitors but Dungannon did not make the most of opportunities to turn the game around. A Telford break took play into the UCC half where a penalty award was taken quickly. The home side infringed and when Kieran Murphy was sent to the ‘sin bin’ the penalty was, very strangely, awarded to UCC! However, a piece of excellent ball recycling paved the way for Gilroy to complete his hat trick on seventy minutes. With Jackson converting Dungannon were just one point adrift. Spurred on by a few penalty awards UCC then mauled prop John Ryan over the line for Burke to convert. The crucial right point lead seemed to be enough to send the visitors away empty handed until that last throw of the dice when Dungannon grabbed two valuable bonus points.
Team: Conor Gaston. Craig Gilroy, Paul Magee, Glen Telford, Christopher Cochrane, Paddy Jackson, Michael Kirkwood (Jason Bloomfield), Glen Sinnamon (Ben Howard) (P Whyte), Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar, Aaron Fry, Paul McCarroll (Callum Threlfall), Mark Riddell, T.J. Anderson, Stuart McKenzie.: Michael Lawton,
Referee: Alan Rogan
Scorers:-
Tries: Craig Gilroy (2), Penalty & Conor Gaston
Cons: Paddy Jackson (3)
Pen: Paddy Jackson
Drop Goal:
Kukri Qualifying League & Conference League
Dungannon’s first game in the Kukri Conference League resulted in a hard earned win against neighbours Clogher Valley at The Cran. This was a most entertaining game from many aspects. Valley had a big pack averaging out at easily a stone a man heavier in the Dungannon pack. They had the wily James Bates and the sweet left boot of Stephen Bothwell at fly half with good ball carriers in the pack and the centre. Their most dangerous weapon was Ally Breen at 15. In contrast Dungannon had to concede second best in the tight phases but the mobility of the back five in the pack together with their industry, led by McFarland and Treanor, made up for the lack of grunt. The centres Ethan Allen and Darren Simpson arguably had a big part in this win with their first time tackles on the opposition. Rowan Halsall ran and ran and Christopher Henderson led the line very effectively. Indeed an intriguing contest with the more mobile Gannon fifteen capitalising on the counter attacking opportunities.
The game started with Clogher Valley driving through their back and forwards. James Bates was caught with his hands in the wrong place but although Gannon cleared their lines an intrusion from Ally Breen resulted in the mobile David Sharkey diving over for a try on five minutes. Stephen Bothwell converted.
7 – 0
Dungannon countered with a strong run by Rowan Halsall carried on by Stuart Lester, unfortunately the Valley defence managed to compress our attackers and an opportunity was thwarted. Dungannon then took a leaf out of the Valley book and following a series of drives Stephen Todd got the touch down. Christopher Henderson converted to level the scores.
7 – 7
Dungannon broke right from the restart and Declan Treanor put Ethan Allen through for him to out pace the defence and touch down between the sticks. Henderson converted after twenty minutes.
7 – 14
Clogher Valley continued to keep things tight but following multiple phases involving Todd, Caddoo, Treanor, Henderson, Allen, Simpson, Halsall and Gilroy Clogher Valley not surprisingly conceded a penalty that Chris Henderson sent just wide on thirty-five minutes. Mark McFarland won vital possession for Dungannon when Valley were looking dangerous. A David Sharkey lineout followed by a ripping run from Ryan Wilson was stopped by some great back row defence aided by Halsall, Henderson and Cummings. With half time approaching Simon Potter made ground from a quick free, he off loaded to Chris Henderson and Rowan Halsall. Quick ruck ball almost resulted in another Gannon break away but coaches Willie Milligan and Mark Henderson were reasonably happy to go into the break seven points ahead.
Dungannon started the second half the better with a Henderson break carried on by Stephen Todd and Mark McFarland. Stuart Lester then showed good strength when he stayed on his feet in contact and slipped the ball to Stephen Todd close to the touch line on halfway. The young flanker ran straight and broke the cover and then had the pace to make the line for a great try.
7 – 19
Clogher Valley worked their way up field but following good work by the Gannon half backs Stewart Gilroy broke away and took Ally Breen’s tackle as he off loaded to the fast supporting Declan Treanor who raced in from thirty metres out after fifty-five minutes. Chris Henderson converted with an excellent kick
7 – 26
Valley went on the attack but were stopped by some excellent defensive work from Alan Cummings. However Valley were now on the front foot and eventually a David Sharkey lineout resulted in a try for Matthew Keys after sixty minutes.
12 – 26
This was a dangerous time for Dungannon where another Valley score would have made for an interesting final quarter. Thankfully the experience up front of Potter and McFarland aided by the rest of the pack especially Declan Treanor kept Gannon in the game. Some of Mark McFarland’s work in the lose was copybook. Andrew Caddoo broke away and almost scored but the hack through went dead. More excellent offensive defence gained valuable possession for Dungannon and allowed them to clear the line.
Dungannon were under pressure in the scrums but Young Neil McGinley and Hugh Flannigan stood up well to the pressure and ensured that Valley only gained a very limited advantage in this element of the game. The Valley attacks lost momentum in the final five minutes thanks again to the excellent defence showed by Dungannon backs and forwards and the visiting contingent were very happy when the ref blew the final whistle to signify a successful outcome to our first Conference game.
There was much discussion in hospitality after the game about the contrasting styles and who was man of the match. Mark McFarland had a great game, young Stephen Todd came up with two tries, the engine room of Declan Treanor and Mark Thompson put in a tremendous amount of work. Potter knew when to run and when to keep the ball, the centre partnership snuffed out many dangerous attacks. Eventually Batesie stopped all the argument by stating that, “You should be grateful for the win, the points, the lack of injuries but next week could be entirely different.“ Wise words from a great competitor.
Team: Stuart Lester. Alan Cummings. Darren Simpson, Ethan Allen, Stewart Gilroy. Christopher Henderson, Rowan Halsall. Neil McGinley, Simon Potter, Hugh Flannigan. Mark Thompson, Declan Treanor, Stephen Todd, Mark McFarland, Andrew Caddoo.
Referee: Michael Pickles (Enniskillen)
Scorers:-
Tries: Stephen Todd (2), Ethan Allen & Declan Treanor
Cons: Mark Henderson (3)
Pen:
Drop Goal:
