This was a good game with plenty of movement to keep the attention of the spectators. Bruff surprised Dungannon with an at times expansive game and their enterprise in the third quarter tuned a ten point deficit into a two point lead. Fortunately Dungannon kept their heads and ran in two unanswered tries giving them a 28-15 bonus point win.
Playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze Bruff took the lead through a Brain Cahill penalty on five minutes.
0 – 3
Dungannon responded well when a Rowan Halsall run brought play up to the Bruff five metre line. However Dungannon were indebted to Stuart McCloskey when Bruff somehow turned over possession and broke down field. McCloskey bundled winger Andrew Cashman in to touch ten metres short of the Dungannon line. Some textbook work from Gannon saw them clear their lines up to halfway. Jaryd Bennett then sent Conor Gaston off on a break. Ali Birch took play on and he sent James McMahon scurrying away down the left. James might have made the line but showing good sense sent a perfectly timed pass to Chris Cochrane who ran over for the try.
5 – 3
Bruff then tested the Gannon defence before Dungannon forced a penalty on the Bruff twenty-two. Michael Lawton judged his kick well to increase the lead after seventeen minutes.
8 – 3 CLICK HERE for pictures
More Bruff pressure was well contained by Dungannon before Cahill tried a chip over the top but the covering Lawton gathered and touched down. Dungannon capitalised on a Bruff mistake following the twenty-two drop out but again Bruff almost caught their host’s out. A turnover in the Bruff twenty-two led to another breakout but this time Jaryd Bennett was covering. With half time on the horizon Dungannon launched a sustained attack with Gaston, Cochrane, McKenzie and Halsall involved before Tim Barker was held short. Then Glen Sinnamon, Kieran Campbell and Paul McKenzie all had a go before tight head Mark Farquhar made the line for a deserved try on thirty-six minutes.
13 – 3
On the stroke of halftime Mark Jenkinson made a storming break but his final pass to James McMahon just failed to reach its destination as ref Gallagher blew for the break.
Whilst Dungannon started the second half well, gaining a foothold in the Bruff twenty-two, it was Bruff who took the early initiative. Some good team play and aggressive running saw .Brendan Deady score a try.
13 – 8
On fifty minutes Bruff’s pressure on the Dungannon line brought further reward when impressive scrum half Eoghan Maher dived over for a second try. Cahill converted to put the Munster men into a lead.
13 – 15
After the restart Dungannon pressed and Bruff were caught off side. Michael Lawton’s kick looked good but an extra puff of wind blew it off course. Dungannon maintained field position and when Jaryd Bennett’s break was stopped by a crunching tackle Paul McKenzie was first man there to pick up and barge his way over for a confidence boosting try. Michael Lawton added the extras on the hour mark.
20 – 15
Dungannon used the wind to get back into the Bruff twenty-two and good scrummaging won a penalty that Michael Lawton converted on sixty-eight minutes.
23 – 15
Dungannon had learned enough to know that Bruff were still dangerous and the boys maintained the pressure on the Visitors. Eventually in the seventy-third minute a good backs move that also included a few errors saw Paul McKenzie send Chris Cochrane racing away to finish off the move that earned the bonus point and the cheers of the faithful.
28 – 15
Neither team was satisfied but a well judged Paul Jackson kick put Dungannon into the Bruff twenty-two and there they stayed until the final whistle.
A good performance from Dungannon and with Bruff full of enterprise a good game for the uncommitted viewers.
This was a vital win for Dungannon but January is a very important month in the Ulster Bank League and the outcome of next Saturday’s visit to Ballymena will be very significant for the ambitions of both Clubs.
Team: Conor Gaston. Michael Lawton. Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane. 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, David Egner, Mark O’Shea
Referee: Sean Gallagher
Tries: Chris Cochrane (2), Mark Farquhar & Paul McKenzie
Conversions: Michael Lawton
Penalties: Michael Lawton (2)
2nd XV vs Enniskillen (13 – 10)
Powerade Towns’ Cup
Ten points from Gareth Graham saw Dungannon through to the second round of this much prized competition.
A Stuart Lester gave Dungannon a 3-0 lead at the break, playing with the elements this was thought not to be enough.
0 – 3
A Gareth Graham penalty increased the advantage before Enniskillen got some points on the board with a penalty.
3 – 6
Gareth Graham then put some daylight between the teams with a self converted try.
3 – 13
At the death Enniskillen got a reward for their endeavours with a last minute converted try.
10 – 13
A good result for Dungannon against difficult opponents.
Team: Darren Simpson. Brian Simpson, Paul Magee, Stuart Lester, Alan Cummings. Gareth Graham, David Spence. Ben Howard, Neil McGinley, Steven Sinnamon. Paul McCarroll. Stuart McKenzie (Cormac Convery), Callum Threlfall, Mark McFarland (Rodney Blair), Peter Smith.
Referee: John Coyle (Bangor)
Tries: Gareth Graham
Conversions: Gareth Graham
Penalties: Gareth Graham & Stuart Lester
3rd XV vs Malone (27 – 7)
Junior League
Playing against the wind in the first half Dungannon had to defend for most of the first quarter. Thankfully throughout the game the defence was up to the task and the sprightly backs made the most of the control up front to run in five tries.
After a period on the back foot Dungannon eventually got some momentum and John McGuckin, making a welcome return after injury, broke through to score under the posts. Robin McCleary’s conversion flew over the crossbar.
0 – 7
Before the half was over Dungannon extended their advantage with two tries from big Stevie Donaghy, the first a peel off a maul and the next a Donaghy charge giving Gannon a 17-0 half time lead.
Malone started the second half in better style with a veteran player touching down for a converted try.
7 – 17
However Dungannon came back with two tries from Mark Faloon; the final one a move started by John McGuckin and Jonny Toal on their own line leaving poor Mark with a ninety metre run with no support. The young man made it in style making the final score 27 – 7 for Dungannon.
Another win but the next game is always the most important and next week the boys entertain Lisburn IIs at Stevenson Park.
Team: Barry Donnelly. Jonny Toal, Mark Faloon, Jonathan Smith (Capt), Jerome McClure. John McGuckin., Julian Knipe. Steven Gavin, Alastar McFarland, Stephen Donaghy. Robin McCleary, Richard Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Jeremy Baird, Peter Keightley,
Referee: Roy McComb
Tries: John McGuckin, Stephen Donaghy (2) & Mark Faloon (2)
Conversions: Robin McCleary
Penalties:
