After a run of four defeats by UCC Dungannon emerged with a well earned bonus point win. Conditions were bad with a blustery wind blowing down the pitch couple with driving rain for most of the match. Although Dungannon were always in control they left it until the second half to assert their authority over the Students from Cork.
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Ulster Bank All Ireland League
Playing with the wind on their backs Dungannon took the lead in the third minute when Jaryd Bennett converted a penalty from thirty metres out.
3 – 0
Shortly after UCC had a penalty attempt that was held up in the wind. A fine Bennett penalty to the corner was not capitalised on and then Dungannon lost a player to the bin on twenty-one minutes. UCC pressed and after two missed Dungannon tackles they should have scored under the posts but some great defensive work held the attacking player up. Somehow Dungannon’s scramble defence kept UCC at bay before winning a penalty in the corner to relieve the situation. Then a Chris Cochrane run out of defence brought play up to the halfway. Good offensive work from Birch, McCloskey, Campbell and Bennett sent UCC back into their half. Veteran supporter Paddy Paddy Greene said, “We need a try.” and the boys must have heard him because they kept up the pressure and eventually when the ball was recycled Kieran Campbell fed Stuart McCloskey who used his strength to squeeze in at the corner. Jaryd Bennett converted with a great touchline kick in the thirty-first minute.
10 – 0
Although they made a mess of the restart UCC were soon on the attack when prop Paddy Ryan broke through and then hoofed the ball up field. Chris Cochrane collected and broke three tackles to bring play up to the ten metre line. Neither side was able to dominate for the rest of the half and referee Hermin’s halftime whistle at least allowed those fair weather spectators to take a short break in the Clubhouse.
Dungannon started the second half with purpose, Rowan Halsall and Mark Farquhar made some hard yards. A UCC attack was cleared by Conor Gaston and a Jaryd Bennett penalty drifted wide. A drop out by UCC was fielded by Conor Gaston; he immediately fed Chris Cochrane who ghosted through the first line of defence before feeding Adam Duhig. Adam took the tackle and offloaded to the supporting Gaston who raced away for a try after fifty-two minutes.
15 – 0
UCC again made a mess of the restart allowing Gannon to go on the offensive through Duhig, Birch, McKenzie and Halsall. UCC conceded a penalty that Bennett dispatched deep into the Visitor’s twenty-two. Gannon won the lineout and following two phases the ball was flipped to the onrushing Cochrane who steamed through for a fine try on the hour. Jaryd converted.
22 – 0
Dungannon kept the pressure on UCC and a strong foothold in UCC territory. When UCC broke out of defence a Gaston clearance was athletically taken by Mark O’Shea. Gannon then won a penalty lineout ten metres out and worked through the phases for Ali Birch to gain the touch down for Dungannon’s fourth try and a bonus point after sixty-five minutes.
27 – 0
Remember remember the 5th of November in Galway, 24 – 16 ahead and bonus point in the bag. It never looked as though there would be any repeat although the Visitors were awarded a penalty try on seventy-eight minutes and scored an injury time try through skipper Brian O’Callaghan, both converted by Cormac O’Flynn.
27 – 14.
A good win in difficult conditions, now for Buccs.
Team: Conor Gaston. Mark O’Shea, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane. Jaryd Bennett, Kieran Campbell. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson, Paul McCarroll. Derek Hall, Ali Birch, Rowan Halsall. Paul Jackson, Phil Whyte, Callum Threlfall, James McMahon, Paul Magee.
Referee: Mark Hermin
Tries: Stuart McCloskey, Conor Gaston, Christopher Cochrane & Ali Birch.
Conversions: Jaryd Bennett (2)
Penalties: Jaryd Bennett
