Sincere sympathy is extended to the Spence family following the devastating tragedy at Hillsborough. The photograph shows Nevin playing alongside Dungannon’s Stuart McCloskey in the Ulster Raven’s match on Friday afternoon.
Queens 13 – 16 Dungannon 1XV
A poor performance by Dungannon at the Dub. Dungannon never really got into second gear but after Jaryd Bennett’s penalty put them into a three point lead the game was abandoned after it had been halted for a considerable time when the Queen’s and Ulster Ravens centre Michael McAuley sustained a serious ankle injury. Queen’s took the lead in the second minute when Richie McMaster kicked a penalty from the ten metre line. Jason Bloomfield then knocked over two neat penalties before McMaster levelled the scores on twenty-one minutes. A promising Dungannon attack was intercepted in the Queen’s twenty-two by their right winger Jonny Russell who ran and jinked his way down the field before scoring behind the posts in the twenty-fifth minute. McMaster added the extras to give Queen’s a 13 – 6 lead. Dungannon’s unfortunate Jason Bloomfield sustained an injury as he tried to stop the try scorer. A poor kick out of defence by Queen’s was capitalised on by Dungannon. Michael Dunleavy quickly passed to Darren Simpson and quick hands to Mark O’Shea gave David Egner the space to race in at the corner. Jaryd Bennett converted to tie the score at 13 all. Just prior to halftime a Dungannon player found his way to the bin for slowing down the ball The second half saw Dungannon look a bit more decisive and a Derek Hall break into the Queen’s twenty-two almost brought a reward. However on forty-five minutes Gannon were awarded a penalty that Jaryd Bennett converted with a great kick from well out on the right. The game did not really reach and heights before it was stopped by the injury. This is the second week in a row that Queen’s have had a game halted by a serious injury to one of their players. We wish Michael a speedy recovery. Team: Mark O’Shea. Darren Simpson, Paul Magee, Mark Faloon, David Egner. Jaryd Bennett, Jason Bloomfield. Steven Sinnamon, Phil Whyte, Mark Farquhar. Plunkett McCarron, Mark Jenkinson. Michael Dunleavy, Derek Hall, James McMahon. Glen Sinnamon, Ben Howard, Tim Smith, Jake Finlay, Jonny Toal.
Dungannon 3XV 22 – 10 Lisburn 2
Dungannon IIIs bagged their first league points of the season in an extraordinary game at Stevenson Park. Visitors, Lisburn started well but had the misfortune to lose both props in the opening half. They managed well for a time until the referee yellow carded their hooker and left them with no front row. The home side were able to take advantage and a Richard Holmes try just before the break levelled matters at 10-10. Earlier, penalties dominated the opening quarter with Timmy Potter popping one over on five minutes. Then, despite good breaks by Chris Blair and Andrew Caddoo, Lisburn countered with a penalty from Matthew Graham on fifteen minutes. By the twenty-second minute Lisburn were in front. A quickly taken free was whipped out to centre, Ben Mewha who touched down for Graham to convert. That rocked Dungannon into action and when John Condy broke down the left flank Richard Holmes was up in support to finish the job. Timmy Potter converted just ahead of the half time whistle. Seven minutes into the second half Dungannon went in front when Andrew Caddoo broke through the middle to make it 15-10. On the hour mark Blair completed the scoring with a good run and a try that Potter converted. A better performance by the IIIs but there is still work to do. Team: Chris Blair. John Condy, Tristan Hutton, Andrew Caddoo, Adam Boyle. Timmy Potter, Kirby Hamilton. Mike Reid, Simon Potter, Adam Lockhart. Gareth McMullan, Hamish McGibbon. Gary Maxwell, Steven Donaghy, Richard Holmes.
