Garryowen, Old Crescent and Bruff were the only sides to come away with victories at the weekend

GARRYOWEN 24 CORK CONSTITUTION 17

For the third season running, Garryowen defeated Cork Constitution at Dooradoyle in the AIL. Neil Cronin and Dave Johnston were on the scoresheet for the second week in a row when Cronin slotted an early penalty before Johnston went over for a try on 26 minutes, which the scrumhalf converted giving the light blues a 10-0 first half lead. Con’s Tomas Quinlan kept the Cork side on the board leaving the side’s 10-6 apart at the half time whistle.

Quinlan was on hand to put the away side onto the lead early in the second with two well struck penalties, but Conan Doyle’s pack, which included Munster’s Mike Sherry and the influential Sean Rennison got their side into a scoring position and Cronin didn’t hesitate to put his side into a 24-12 lead, after full back Johnston got over for his second a few minutes earlier. In the dying stages of the game, the reigning champions had a number of scrums on the home side’s line before Cronin was shown a yellow card for repeated infringement which Con’s Gavin Duffy took advantage of going over for a consolation try and a losing bonus point.

TERENURE COLLEGE 32 YOUNG MUNSTER 13

Young Munster’s made it three losses on the bounce on Saturday when they went down to Terenure College at Lakelands Park. Two early tries from Nure’ made for bad viewing for the travelling supporters, but a Shane Airey penalty before the break gave Munster’s some hope going into the second forty.

With just 6 minutes on the clock, the Cookies, through good work from their pack, were rewarded with a penalty try, levelling up the scores and went into the lead shortly after with another Airey penalty. However, it was all downhill from their for the away side as yellow card and penalty saw the home side level up the scores again before running in a further three tries before the final whistle to root Gearoid Prendergast’s side to 7th in the table, 12 adrift from fourth place Clontarf.

BALLYNAHINCH 42 SHANNON 15

Shannon were leapfrogged in the table on Saturday thanks to a heavy defeat from top spot rivals Ballynahinch at Ballymacarn Park. Things didn’t start too well for the Limerick side when Hinch’ got over for a converted try with just five minutes on the clock. The away side responded with a penalty from Richie Mullane but the home side got over in the corner a few minutes later to increase their lead to 14-3. A Keith Kavanagh score 8 minutes from the break meant there would only be 6 points between to top two sides at the break.

However, three tries in the space of 15 minutes at the start of the second period saw the County Down side race into an impressive 35-8 lead, with the bonus point guaranteed. Both sides scored in the final 10 minutes to leave the score at 42-15, but in the end it didn’t mean very much and Tom Hayes’ side will be looking to put things right this Saturday when the league leaders come to Thomond Park.

UL BOHEMIANS 15 UCC 22

UL Bohemians couldn’t capitalise on a rare win last weekend and push on this time out as they were defeated by UCC on the 4G in UL. The away side went into an early lead with a penalty before tries from Ian Condell first, then Darragh O’Grady saw Bohs go into a 12-3 first half lead, with Robbie Bourke only converting O’Grady’s try. The home side, who have been struggling to find any bit of form this season, showed why they have only won two games this year when they let the Cork side in for two quick converted tries before the break meaning they would have to turn around a five point deficit after the interval.

Christy Neilan’s side did put the UCC defence under pressure at different stages of the second half, but could only muster a penalty for the whole forty minutes, and with the Cork College running the pitch for a converted try late on it wasn’t Bohemians day. That loss moves the Limerick side down to second bottom in 1B again.

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OLD CRESCENT 22 NAVAN 20

Old Crescent have gone the full first half of the UBL season undefeated after winning at home to Navan on Saturday in Division 2B. As is so often the case with this Crescent side, they started brightly against their opponents when a brace of tries from Brian Tuohy, converted by Ronan McKenna saw them go into a 14 nil lead after 25 minutes. The County Meath side replied with two penalties before the break leaving the side 14-6 apart at the interval.

Val McDermott latched onto the end of a McKenna chip five minutes into the second to increase their sides lead to 19-6 after the latter couldn’t convert, however the away side responded very well and scored two converted tries in the space of 10 minutes to see them lead the league leaders for the first time in the game. The Rosbrien side, who were ran very close last weekend as well, kept their cool an earned themselves a kickable penalty with five minutes to go which fly half McKenna slotted to keep their 100% record in tact for another week at least. That win see’s the table toppers go 8 points clear at the top of 2B

BRUFF 17 MIDLETON 13

Bruff got their first win in three on Saturday as they saw off the challenge of Munster rival Midleton at Kilballyowen Park. The home side got off to the perfect start when Jack O’Grady got in under the posts after just five minutes to cancel out the away side’s early drop goal. Davy O’Grady then slotted a penalty on 28 minutes before the Cork side got a converted try of their own before the break to leave the sides 10 all at half time.

Bruff scored early in the second half too when Danny Keogh got over for his side’s second, and when O’Grady knocked over another two points, things were looking good for the County Limerick side. Midleton did score again before the final whistle with a penalty, but wasn’t enough to deny Eoin Cahill’s men an important victory which see his side move up to fifth in the table.

BECTIVE RANGERS 9 THOMOND 3

Thomond made it two losses in as many games on Saturday as they went down to 14 man Bective Rangers on Saturday on the 4G at Donnybrook. After just six minutes on the clock Bective hooker Adam Cullen was shown a straight red for an off the ball incident meaning the away side would have a numerical advantage for over 70 minutes of the tie.

However the soda cakes failed to make this advantage count and went in at half all square at nil all despite pressure put on the home side’s defence throughout the first half. Things didn’t start to well for the Limerick side in the second period either when Becive’s Gearoid O’Grady slotted a 45th minute penalty to put the home side into the lead. Evan Cusack responded 15 minutes later with a penalty, but a further two shots from O’Grady in the final 10 decided the game in the Dublin outfit’s favour. James Hickey’s side stay in second position in the table despite the loss, three points ahead of third place Malahide.