Ulster Senior League
A good performance by Dungannon ahead of their opening Ulster Bank League
game next Saturday as they gained a bonus point win over country cousins
Ballymena at Eaton Park. This game was also for the weather postponed 2010
Jack Kyle Cup.
Playing with wind advantage Dungannon opened the scoring on four minutes
with a well judged Michael Lawton penalty. Some lively running by Stuart
McCloskey, Chris Cochrane almost sent Lawton through but when a penalty was
awarded on ten minutes Michael knocked it over. A David O’Hara penalty
after eighteen minutes put Ballymena on the scoreboard.
3 – 6
Jaryd Bennett took full advantage of the wind with a long kick into the
Ballymena twenty-two. The Dungannon pack kept pressure on their opponents
and following surges by Adam Duhig and Glen Sinnamon Timmy Smith added the
final touch with a try after twenty-three minutes. Michael Lawton added the
extras with another good kick in the tricky wind.
3 – 13
Ballymena were punished prior to halftime when their flanker was binned for
foul play and Michael Lawton knocked over the resultant penalty
3 – 16
Dungannon were playing sensibly rugby against the wind but it was David
O’Hara who got the score moving with a penalty for Ballymena on fifty-five
minutes.
6 – 16
We were then treated to the try of the match; when the Dungannon forwards
gave the newly cropped Buzz Bloomfield the ball he set the play in motion
with the ball passing through the hands of Jaryd Bennett to Chris Cochrane.
The winger, in his new slippery yellow boots, ghosted through the Ballymena
defence before drawing the fullback and unselfishly off loading to the
supporting Conor Gaston who raced over after the hour. Stuart McCloskey
added the conversion.
6 – 23
Five minutes later Skipper Mark Jenkinson instigated a play that saw Connor
Gaston breaking through before repaying the favour when he drew his man and
passed to the fluorescent footed Cochrane who raced over for another good
try. This time Jaryd Bennett added the extras.
6 – 30
The lively Bloomfield almost created another try but Gannon now had their
tails up and a wonderful example of handling from the backs ended with Paul
Magee going over for the fourth try on seventy minutes. Bennett again
converted.
6 – 37
Ballymena were now desperate for a score to restore some pride and a clever
reverse pass to David O’Hara allowed him room to scamper over for a self
converted try on seventy-seven minutes.
13 – 37
At the death Jason Bloomfield almost got a deserved try but the moved was
stopped short and ref Hermin blew for time.
A good performance by Dungannon and just what Fitzy ordered on the eve of
the AIL.
Team: Conor Gaston. Christopher Cochrane, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey,
Michael Lawton. Jaryd Bennett, Jason Bloomfield., Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig,
Mark Farquhar. Craig Miller, Mark Jenkinson. Derek Hall, Ali Birch, Rowan
Halsall. Ben Howard, Philip Whyte, Timothy Smith, Mark O’Shea, Paul Magee.
Referee: Mark Hermin (Randalstown)
Tries: Timothy Smith, Conor Gaston, Christopher Cochrane & Paul Magee.
Conversions: Michael Lawton, Stuart McCloskey & Jaryd Bennett (2).
Penalty: Michael Lawton (3)
