3rd XV vs Ballymena (57 – 12)
Junior League
The country cousins met at Stevenson Park on a dull, cold but dry December afternoon.
Ballymena kicked off but Dungannon went on the attack immediately when Jonny Toal went through only to be caught by the Ballymena full back. Dungannon maintained the pressure for fully fifteen minutes but Ballymena defended well and Dungannon just could not find that decisive opening to get the try. Eventually the ball went wide to Jerome McClure who stepped inside three defenders to go in under the posts after seventeen minutes.
From then on Dungannon really got into their stride as they ran in a further eight tries. Another great break from Jerome McClure was supported by Gareth Graham who kicked through for Jonny Toal to collect the ball and run over for the try on twenty minutes. Three minutes later the big Dungannon pack used their lineout to drive up to the Ballymena line where Philip McCammon scored. The Ballymena heads were starting to drop as Dungannon played some great flowing rugby. Johnny Toal made a break down the wing following some good back play from Mark Faloon and Brian Simpson. Toal offloaded to the only forward fit enough to stay up with him and Declan Treanor scored under the posts on thirty-five minutes. This left the score 24-0 to Dungannon halftime.
Dungannon kick off the second half with morale and confidence, perhaps a little too high! Ballymena took advantage of this when their fullback broke up the middle and nearly went the length of the pitch. However full back supreme, Big Rab McCleary made a try saving tackle to save his teammate’s blushes. Thankfully the boys woke up with the pack taking charge. On fifty-two minutes Peter Keightley scored. Unfortunately Philip McCammon and Gareth Graham had to come off with injuries, as Ballymena were two players down this evened the sides at thirteen players each. It did not stop Dungannon and from the Ballymena restart kick the backs moved the ball out and the bustling Mark Faloon ran from inside the Dungannon twenty-two to scored under the posts on fifty-three minutes. Dungannon pushed forward again and good play from skipper Rory Patton, Jonny Toal and Simmo created space for Timothy Smith to dash through for a deserved try.
Then some scrappy play from Dungannon allowed Ballymena’s Michael Smith to break away and score a try that even Big Rab could not prevent.
Dungannon did not let this stop them and after some good forward play from Ali Moore, Wallace McKay and Darren Treanor the ball was moved out to Simmo who jinked his way through for Dungannon’s eighth try after sixty-two minutes.
With the game now very much in Dungannon’s hands the pack moved forward again. Timothy Smith unselfishly offloaded to Stevie Gavin who found himself with a one on one with the fullback. Stevie thought of David Humphreys; then pulled off a sidestep that nobody in the crowd let alone the Ballymena fullback saw coming before he darted over to complete the Dungannon scoring. Big Rab kicked his sixth conversion (what happened to the other three?) of the day making the score 57-5.
With only four minutes left Ballymena’s Darryl Montgomery scored another break away try that he converted to leave the final score 57 – 12.
A great result for the III XV that sets them up for what should be an entertaining Crawford Cup game next week at Stevenson Park against Enniskillen. Team Manager Gareth McMullan was very pleased with the performance especially the performance of his forwards. He also praised the relatively inexperienced backs. A big thank you to Darren Treanor for accepting the late call up and helping his big brother in the second row.
Team: Robin McCleary. Jerome McClure, Mark Faloon, Brian Simpson, Jonny Toal. Gareth Graham, Rory Patton (Capt). Steven Gavin, Ali Moore, Wallace McKay. Declan Treanor, Darren Treanor. Philip McCammon, Peter Keightley, Timothy Smith.
Referee: Terence Cooke
Tries: Jerome McClure, Jonny Toal, Philip McCammon, Declan Treanor, Peter Keightley, Mark Faloon, Timothy Smith, Brian Simpson & Steven Gavin
Conversions: Robin McCleary (6)
Penalties
4th XV vs Dromore (48 – 0)
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Junior League
Dungannon Fourths moved top of the League table following this comfortable win over Dromore at Stevenson Park.
An early break took Gareth Lucas within striking distance before a ‘knock on’ spoiled the move. Dromore were awarded a scrum but after winning it the ball was spilled for Kevin McElduff to break clear and touch down at the posts after six minutes. Kevin said that he was just keeping things moving until the backs got their fingers warmed up Richard Wright added the simple conversion.
7 – 0
Dromore also had the added misfortune of losing hooker Philip Ireland through injury. Dungannon’s next visit to the line ended through a spillage as cold hands proved a problem with handling. That said Conor Mackle held the final pass to touch down on sixteen minutes.
12 – 0
Midway through the half young centre, Cormac Convery ran in from distance.
17 – 0
On twenty-two minutes a steal by Adam Boyle saw him race away from a maul and touch down at the posts for Richard Wright to convert.
24 – 0
On the half hour, Jeremy Baird, just back from injury, made his presence felt when he burst through the Dromore forwards to touch down. Ricky Wright converted.
31 – 0
Early in the second half Adam ‘Dynamo’ Boyle completed his brace.
36 – 0
With the Dungannon forwards now well on top it was no surprise when Gareth Lucas forced his way over after fifty-five minutes.
41 – 0
In the final quarter Jonathan Parr burst through for Dungannon’s eighth try that Eddie Laverty converted.
48 – 0
This was a super performance by the Dungannon team and well done to the forwards who claimed six of the tries. Steven Donaghy, Darran Lucas and Fergal Mallon did not get their names on the score sheet but all starred in this notable win.
Team: Edward Laverty. Conor Mackle, Cormac Convery, Geoffrey Blair, Peter Kennedy. Richard Wright, Julian Knipe (Capt). Stephen Donaghy, Adam Boyle, Darran Lucas. Gareth Lucas, Jonathan Parr. Kevin McElduff, Fergal Mallon, Jeremy Baird.
Referee: Steven Green
Tries: Kevin McElduff, Conor Mackle, Cormac Convery, Adam Boyle (2), Jeremy Baird, Gareth Lucas & Jonathan Parr.
Conversions: Richard Wright (3) & Edward Laverty
Penalties:
Drop Goal:
