1st XV vs BELFAST HARLEQUINS (27 – 15)
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
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A clinical display by Dungannon put their Ulster Bank All Ireland League campaign back on the rails with a deserved bonus point win over Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park. Dungannon were a delight to watch in the opening half when the forwards supplied good ball for the backs to register three tries and a 20-3 lead at the break. The momentum was carried into the second half and come the fifty-third minute Mark Farquhar dived over for the important bonus point try. Quins showed signs of improvement and dominated the scoring in the final quarter as they went over for two tries to make the final score 15-27.
Early exchanges were scrappy as both sides started cautiously with Quins easily winning the penalty count. A turnover by Dungannon saw the magnificent Tim Barker surge away and feed Skipper, Mark Jenkinson who made great ground down the left flank before passing to Stuart McCloskey who scampered over for a try on eight minutes. Paddy Jackson added the extras with a well judged kick.
0 – 7
Dungannon continued to hold the upper hand, and following good work from James McMahon a Callum Threlfall break sent the sprightly Jenkinson away down the left, this time Peter Nelson raced on to the offload to score from twenty-two metres out after twenty minutes.
0 – 12
Quins attacked from the restart and a snap drop at goal by Ian Porter was just wide. Dungannon responded with some aggressive play by the pack. When Quins infringed on the half hour Paddy Jackson stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.
0 – 15
Three minutes later at the other end James Shiells scooped over a drop goal to open the scoring for the Deramore club.
3 – 15
Good work from Chris Farrell and Chris Cochrane took play out of the Gannon twenty-two up to halfway. A Michael Kirkwood break then put Quins on the back foot. The recycled ball was taken on by Glen Sinnamon and Mark Farquhar who made a decisive dent in the Quins defence. The support drove Farquhar on and when Farrell, Kirkwood and Jenkinson were held Gannon spun the ball through Jackson and Nelson before a deft McKenzie pass saw Cochrane ghost over at ground level for the try after forty minutes. There was some debated on Paddy Jackson’s conversion that was adjudged to have gone wide.
3 – 20
Quins had the advantage of the slightly diagonal breeze in the second half and soon made their way to the corner. The Dungannon defence held firm before a Paddy Jackson clearance took play to halfway. A great pass by Peter Nelson gave Paul McKenzie space to launch an attack that saw Chris Cochrane race into the Quins twenty-two. When he was stopped Glen Sinnamon, Tim Barker and Adam Duhig drove on before prop Farquhar got over with a final surge. Paddy Jackson converted on fifty-three minutes.
3 – 27
With a bonus point and a twenty-four point lead is was no surprise that Gannon took the foot off the pedal. After a series of drives Quins number 8 Alistair Heatlie dived over. Ian Porter converted with a well judged kick after fifty-eight minutes.
10 – 27
With Neil McComb to the fore Quins took the game to Dungannon. A great Tim Smith tackle held up a certain try but Harlequins got the score they worked for in the seventy-eighth minute when Michael Ferguson went over.
15 – 27
This was a welcome return to winning ways for Dungannon but now the boys must keep their objective firmly in sight when the travel to play Galwegians next Saturday.
Team: Peter Nelson. Chris Farrell, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane. Paddy Jackson, Michael Kirkwood. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Tim Barker, Mark Jenkinson (Capt). Derek Hall, Callum Threlfall, James McMahon. Philip Whyte, Timothy Smith, Craig Miller, Conor Gaston, Jason Bloomfield
Referee: Mark Patton (Academy)
Tries: Stuart McCloskey, Peter Nelson, Christopher Cochrane & Mark Farquhar.
Conversions: Paddy Jackson (2)
Penalty: Paddy Jackson
4th XV vs Carrickfergus (35 – 7)
Junior League
Dungannon Fourths made it four wins from four in the Junior League with a deserved 35-7 win over Carrick at Stevenson Park. Early signs were good as Andrew Holmes and Fergal Mallon went close in the opening minutes. However, it was all of seventeen minutes before the first try. Marc Lawson made good ground for Andrew Caddoo to score.
5 – 0
On twenty-eight minutes, a good break by Gareth Graham sent Cormac Convery away for a try.
10 – 0
Gareth Graham was again to the fore when he created space for Jeremy Turkington to send Marc Lawson over the line in the thirty-fifth minute. Graham converted.
17 – 0
The second half had barely started when Julian Knipe took play into the Carrick twenty-two. The visitors infringed and Graham popped over the resultant penalty.
20 – 0
Minutes later good work by Declan Treanor and David Spence took play close to the visitors’ line. From the set scrum Richard Wright sent Andrew Holmes away for a try.
25 – 0
Carrick then were unfortunate to lose two players through injury before the industrious Gareth Graham added Dungannon’s fourth try.
30 – 0
On the hour mark, Pete Moore broke the duck for Carrick when he slipped through three Dungannon tackles for a try that he converted himself.
35 – 7
Gareth Graham then completed his brace in a rather eventful final quarter.
Skipper Julian Knipe was pleased with team’s performance although he is concerned by the lack of points off the tee!
Team: Cormac Convery. Julian Knipe (Capt), Gareth Graham, Andrew Holmes, Fergal Mallon. Richard Wright, David Spence. Wallace McKay, Adam Boyle, Darran Lucas. Gareth Lucas, Declan Treanor. Andrew Caddoo, Jeremy Turkington, Marc Lawson.
Referee: Alan Wilson
Tries: Andrew Caddoo, Cormac Convery, Marc Lawson, Andrew Holmes & Gareth Graham (2)
Conversions: Gareth Graham
Penalties: Gareth Graham
