Dungannon played this twice postponed Ulster Bank League game in the knowledge that they were on a high whilst their opponents Bruff were going to suffer relegation to Division 2A. County Limerick is never a happy hunting ground for Ulster teams but this time the long journey to Limerick was worthwhile as Dungannon achieved a record breaking 74-12 win over Bruff. Kicking off with sun and wind on their backs the visitors soon had the scoreboard ticking when Bruff infringed at a ruck Stuart McCloskey fired over a penalty on the third minute. Bruff retorted with better ball retention but failed to make an impact. Then a great McCloskey break could have come to naught when he slipped just outside the Bruff twenty-two but the backup was there from Halsall, Birch, Bennett and Egner. After recycling possession Batesie sent the strong running McCloskey away to score beside the posts and convert on eleven minutes. 0 – 10. Bruff then settled to the task and held the ball well for scrum-half, Willie Casey to feed the close quarter runners. The Dungannon defence held firm though and when Glen Sinnamon forced a turnover the now back from injury, Sean Doyle broke through to race away and score after twenty minutes, Stuart McCloskey popped over the simple conversion. This proved to be the first of three tries in the next five minutes. The first was an object lesson in how the speed of passing will beat a defence. Good work from Bennett and O’Shea was carried on by Bates, Jackson, Dunleavy and Conway. More intelligent play from Skipper Jenkinson kept the ball alive. Then a combination of good running by Cochrane and O’Shea allowed swift passes from Bates, Bennett, Doyle and Birch to provided David Egner with the space to touch down. Next up it was a McCloskey break carried on by Halsall then by Jenkinson whose quick hands when tackled allowed the supporting Rowan Halsall to run over at the posts on twenty-five minutes. McCloskey added the extras and Dungannon were cruising. 0 – 29. Bruff then enjoyed an attacking phase but when they lost control of the ball on the Dungannon ten metre line Chris Cochrane raced clear for McCloskey to convert on thirty-five minutes. 0 – 36. Bruff then suffered a setback with the ‘sinbining’ of a forward and when the ensuing penalty was taken quickly Jaryd Bennett darted in for Dungannon’s sixth try. 0 – 41. As the half ended Bruff then set up a useful drive but when the ball was flung left, it eluded winger, Mark Cosgrove and landed in touch.
Peter Nelson left the bench for the second half and within one minute sent Cochrane away for his second try. Nelson converted 0 – 48. Bruff bounced back and with their pack on the drive the ball was released for fullback, Charlie Enright to touch down on forty-seven minutes. 5 – 48. Normal service resumed three minutes later when Paul Jackson rescued a stray pass before sending David Egner in at the corner. Chris Cochrane then completed a remarkable personal quartet when he beat two men and darted in on fifty-five minutes, then when Bruff fumbled around the Gannon twenty-two Cochrane collected and raced away for his fourth try on the hour. Peter Nelson converted both of Cochrane’s tries. 5 – 67. The pace of the game slowed down in the final quarter before Stuart McCloskey completed his brace with a self-converted try on seventy-five minutes. Last say though went to Bruff when No.8, Paddy Clery burst through for Graham Bolger to convert. 12 – 74. All in all, a very competent performance from Dungannon and the bonus point win leaves Paddy Johns’ young charges having collected 19 points out of potentially 20 points. Paddy was proud of all his players especially Batesie who helped guide him home on Saturday. On behalf of all the Dungannon officials a huge “Thank you” to Bruff President, Richard Leonard and his committee for the warm welcome and superb hospitality.
Team: Mark O’Shea, David Egner, Stuart McCloskey, Sean Conway, Chris Cochrane, Jaryd Bennett, James Bates, Glen Sinnamon, Paul Jackson, Steven Sinnamon, Michael Dunleavy, Mark Jenkinson, Rowan Halsall, Sean Doyle, Ali Birch. Jeremy Turkington, Mark Farquhar, Timmy Smith, Peter Nelson, Glen Telford.
