First Trust Ulster Senior Cup
Cup holders, Dungannon opened their defence of the trophy in fine style at
Hatrick Park but they had to endure a shaky start against a very plucky
Rainey outfit. Gavin Martin missed a penalty, albeit against the wind, in
the first minute before David Egner was forced to retreat in defence as the
home side threatened. Elsewhere, Dungannon tried to get their running game
going with Paul McKenzie and Stuart McCloskey both stopped on midfield runs.
However, it was Rainey who went close following an intercept by Matt
McClelland and a break from Alan Clarke. For Dungannon, the breakthrough
came on twenty-one minutes. Ben Howard powered forward and a quickly taken
free by Ali Birch caught the home side within ten meters. Michael Lawton
converted the close range penalty.
0 – 3
Following the restart Stuart McCloskey made a break that was carried on by
Paul McKenzie. When checked Dungannon moved the ball left for Mark Jenkinson
to touch down on twenty-three minutes. Michael Lawton added the extras.
10 – 10
Back came Rainey with some good forward driving before they granted
Dungannon an absolute gift. Scrumhalf, Peter Sciascia tried to run the ball
from defence but his pass to Clarke was intercepted. David Egner grabbed the
chance with both hands to give Dungannon a lead at the break.
0 – 15
Rainey were more than happy to be just 15 points adrift at the break but
Dungannon were to produce a dazzling third quarter that yielded four tries.
Ali Birch ran sixty metres for the first on forty-one minutes before Michael
Lawton and Paul McKenzie sent Stuart McCloskey clear. Michael Lawton popped
over the conversion to on fifty minutes.
0 – 27
The introduction of Chris Cochrane in the second half was a key factor in
the next score. Chris broke clear from defence before sending Michael Lawton
away for a seven pointer on fifty-four minutes.
0 – 34
Three minutes later Adam Duhig touched down in the left hand corner
following an angled kick from Jaryd Bennett.
0 – 39
Rainey now had a mountain to climb in the final quarter and while they went
on the offensive on several occasions they could neither open their account
nor prevent Lawton and Egner from completing their braces on sixty-one and
sixty-eight minutes. Michael Lawton converted his own try while Stuart
McCloskey added the extras to his try.
0 – 53
This ended the scoring on what was a satisfactory afternoon for Dungannon.
Team: Mark O’Shea. Michael Lawton, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, David
Egner. Jaryd Bennett, Michael Kirkwood. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark
Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson, Craig Miller. Rowan Halsall, Ali Birch, Derek
Hall. Timothy Smith. Ben Howard, Philip Whyte, Jason Bloomfield, Christopher
Cochrane.
Referee: Jonathan Peak (Instonians)
Tries: Mark Jenkinson, Ali Birch, David Egner (2), Stuart McCloskey, Adam
Duhig & Michael Lawton (2).
Conversions: Michael Lawton (4) & Stuart McCloskey.
Penalty: Michael Lawton
