1st XV vs Buccaneers (28 – 25)
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Ulster Bank All Ireland League
This twice postponed fixture turned into a cracking game with both sides scoring four tries and the lead changing hands five times in the second half before Conor Gaston sealed the home win with a seventy-seventh minute try. Buccaneers will be disappointed but this game could have gone either way, with the return at Athlone in three weeks unlike the 339 to 1 odds against Ireland in the cricket the Athlone game will be too close to call.
Dungannon conceded a penalty after the restart and put themselves under pressure that resulted in a successful Adam Kennedy penalty in the second minute.
0 – 3
Dungannon attacked from the restart and after several phases were set for a final assault on the Buccaneers line when Buccs won a turnover and cleared their lines. Both teams attacked before Aaron Fry was binned in the twelfth minute.
Dungannon were under the cosh but a combined tackle by Cochrane and Halsall stopped one potential try, Buccs then had an overlap on the left but the final pass went forward. Dungannon cleared but Buccs came back and then squandered an overlap on the right. Eventually they made the numbers count and Eoin Rooney went over after twenty minutes. Adam Kennedy converted…
0 – 10
Good work by the Dungannon backs saw Conor Gaston chase a Chris Cochrane kick and force a Buccs defender to carry the ball over. Dungannon played through a few phases before a Buccs clearance was taken back to them by Gaston. When the ball was recycled Michael Lawton capitalised on a neat piece of work by Kieran Campbell to touch down before converting with a great kick after twenty-five minutes.
7 – 10
Dungannon’s Ali Birch made ground from the restart and following some good movement Dungannon won a penalty that Michael Lawton converted after thirty minutes to level the scores.
10 – 10
The remainder of the half was nip and tuck with Buccs having the territorial advantage but the Dungannon defence, particularly the back row’s aggressive defending kept Buccs well away from the danger zone.
The second half started with Dungannon on the front foot. After Michael Kirkwood took a quick penalty that brought play up to the Buccaneers twenty-two where Dungannon won a penalty Michael Lawton converted to give Dungannon the lead after forty-five minutes
13 – 10
Buccs went on the attack and three minutes later good hands by their backs resulted in John O’Brien racing over for a try in the corner giving Buccs back the lead.
13 – 15
Buccaneers kept the initiative and it was no great surprise when winger Shane Monaghan went over after fifty-five minutes.
13 – 20
This was a signal for Dungannon to be more precise with their ball control and with the need for possession in mind they went about their business with purpose. Eventually following a series of phases in the Buccs twenty-two Conor Gaston made ground before feeding Ali Birch who burst over on the left.
18 – 20
Five minutes later Chris Cochrane collected the ball infield and outside the Buccs twenty-two, He ran wide outside three men and somehow managed to keep his feet in play and fend off three tacklers. When the Ghost was in the clear no one was going to catch him. Chris’s try passed the lead back to Gannon after sixty-five minutes.
23 – 20
After some discussion amongst the Faithful as to how long was left the Master allowed the anything could happen. It did. A fingertip grasp of a Buccaneers jersey by Paul Magee saved the day but after seventy-three minutes Buccs hooker Gareth Halligan dived over following a ruck to get the try. Advantage Buccs.
23 – 25
With one score separating the teams there was plenty to play for. Fortunately Dungannon had the better of possession. When Glen Telford made a break in midfield he fed Chris Cochrane who was tackled within a couple of strides of the line. Adam Duhig was up in support and retained possession. It looked as though the chance had gone when an overlap was spurned but Gannon kept possession. After Glen Sinnamon and Ali Birch had tidied things up the ball was sent wide to Conor Gaston, no one was going to stop the big man as he surged over for a try that sent the Faithful wild with delight.
28 – 25
Buccs attacked from the restart but after a bit of a juggle Darren Simpson cleared well. Dungannon built on that clearance and were on the offensive again when referee McCormack blew the whistle for full time.
This was a good game of rugby with plenty of movement and a will to attack shown by both sides. It was hard luck on Buccs but Gannon just about deserved it on the day.
Adam Duhig deservedly won the Man of the Match award but every player on the pitch contributed towards the entertainment. Dungannon’s young men did very well but the influence of the tireless Michael Rainey plus Sinnamon. Telford and captain Magee was very significant in this win.
Next week we have another exciting adventure at Stevenson Park when we play a very important and prestigious match in the semi final of the Bateman All Ireland Cup against Galway Corinthians.
President Stanley, Fitzy and Captain Paul would like a full turnout next Saturday and want you all to bring family and friends to give our boys a big boost.
The Ireland Wales 6 Nations game is on TV in the Clubhouse at 5.00 p.m. and food will be available.
Team: Conor Gaston. Michael Lawton., Paul Magee (Capt), Glen Telford, Christopher Cochrane (Darren Simpson). Kieran Campbell, Michael Kirkwood. Phil Whyte (Ben Howard), Adam Duhig, Glen Sinnamon. Michael Rainey, Aaron Fry (Stuart McKenzie). Callum Threlfall, Ali Birch, Rowan Halsall. Timothy Smith, Stuart Lester.
Referee: Darragh McCormack (IRFU)
Scorers:-
Tries: Michael Lawton, Ali Birch, Chris Cochrane &.Conor Gaston
Cons: Michael Lawton
Pen: Michael Lawton (2)
Drop Goal:
2nd XV vs Ballynahinch (5 – 26)
Powerade Provincial Towns’ Cup
A rusty Dungannon II XV travelled to Ballynahinch for this Quarter Final of the Powerade Provincial Towns’ Cup having played just one match since the last round of the Cup.
The game started according to the script for Hinch with Dungannon conceding an early penalty in Hinch’s half. Ballynahinch kicked the ball into Dungannon’s twenty-two, won the lineout, mauled a bit before spinning the ball wide for a try. Thankfully Gannon learn from this and kept the Hinch maul in check for the rest of the match.
Dungannon soon found themselves in a good attacking position. The Hinch defence held and an attempted drop gaol by Jonny Patton was charged down. Dungannon recovered possession and attacked out wide. Unfortunately the scoring attempt failed when the ref blew for a forward pass. Dungannon had another scoring opportunity but the resultant penalty went wide.
The game was fairly even with Dungannon edging territorially but Hinch were retaining possession well and electing not to kick it away. However when Hinch forced a five metre scrum they worked a ‘Shannon’ move and scored a converted try.
Dungannon came back and attacked again but the half ended with Hinch scoring another converted try to lead by 19 – 0.
Dungannon started the second half well putting pressure on the Ballynahinch defence. However at nineteen points down it was no surprise that Gannon were chasing the game. Dungannon were then reduced to fourteen men when James McMahon had to leave the field with an injury. The loss of a player galvanised Gannon into action and the fourteen men were rewarded with a well worked try for Mark Riddell.
Dungannon were still dominating play but lost their captain to the sin bin after a technical offence. This could have finished Dungannon off but Hinch actually only scored the one try during the Skipper’s absence.
At 26 – 5 down the floodgates could have opened but the return of the Skipper put Gannon on the attack again. Unfortunately Mark Riddell then suffered a knock and also had to leave the field. Gritty loose head Adam Lockhart damaged his knee but remained on the pitch and scrummaging manfully although he was unable to contribute around the park. Hinch brought on fresh legs but the Dungannon boys kept playing and defending well for the remainder of the game.
A brave performance by the men in blue and white against a slick Hinch side. Coach Mark Henderson said afterwards, “I was very proud of the boys, Hinch expected to run riot when we went down to first fourteen men and then thirteen but we stopped them from doing that. It showed great strength of character by the players. I was also impressed by the way they played for each other when under pressure.”
Team: Stuart Gilroy. Alan Cummings, Christopher Henderson, Ethan Allan, Brian Simpson. Jonathan Patton, David Spence. Adam Lockhart, Simon Potter (Capt), Hugh Flannigan. David Irwin, Stephen Todd. Daryl Marshall, Mark Riddell, James McMahon.
Referee: Jonathan Peak (Instonians)
Scorers:-
Tries: Mark Riddell
Cons:
Pen:
Drop Goal:
3rd XV vs Bangor (36 – 0)
Junior League
More to follow
Team: Christopher Blair. Adam Booth, Geoffrey Blair, Jonathan Smith, Philip Stinson. Jason Ferry, Gareth James. Steven Gavin, Aaron Falloon, Darran Lucas. Gareth McMullan, Gareth Lucas. Andrew Caddoo, Gary Martin, Christopher Holland (Capt).
Referee: Peter Jackson (Ophir)
Scorers:-
Tries: Steven Gavin (2), Chris Holland, Geoffrey Blair, Adam Booth & Andrew Caddoo
Cons Jason Ferry (3)
Pen:
Drop Goal:
