The Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A rollercoaster continued on its merry way in reaching the halfway point, with seven try-scoring bonus points and three losing bonus points decorating another eventful round.
St Mary’s underlined their title credentials in their first season back in the top flight after a seven-year absence with a seventh attacking bonus point in their 32-26 win over Lansdowne in a Friday night streamed advert for the league on the Aviva back pitch; the lead exchanging hands four times.
Lansdowne recovered from an early 12-0 deficit to lead 21-12 in the second half and scored four tries themselves through Barry Fitzpatrick, Cathal Eddy, Andy Marks and Louis McGauran. But with Conor Dean pulling the strings in another inventive display, St Mary’s extended their unbeaten run to six games through tries by Ethan Baxter, Colm Reilly, Mark Fogarty (two) and Richie Bergin. Lansdowne host 2A pacesetters Instonians in the Bateman Cup final on January 4th, a week ahead of the round 10 reverse fixtures.
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Although not at their best Clontarf moved up to second thanks to five tries from their power game, including another brace of maul tries by Dylan Donnellan, as well as one for replacement hooker Barry Gray, who had a big impact, in their 35-25 win at home to City of Armagh.
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Conor Kelly contributed another 15 points, while Armagh fullback Kyle Faloon completed his 15-point haul with a contender for try of the season but, alas, for no tangible reward.
Defiant goal line defending was a theme at Lakelands Park where Terenure recorded their third win in succession by beating Ballynahinch 24-3. They led 5-3 at half-time thanks to the first of two tries by the returning Jordan Coghlan. They broke Hinch’s resistance when the in-form Leinster academy winger Henry McErlean scored from 90 minutes off a crosskick by Alan Bennie, before Adam la Grue created the bonus-point try by Conor McKeon.
Cork Con had their bonus point by the 32nd minute as they roared into a 28-5 lead at home to UCD with tries by Adam Maher, Daniel Hurley, Aidan Moynihan and Seán French in a frenetic and fluctuating game at Temple Hill.
But despite missing a number of their Leinster academy players the students bounced back to make it 28-26 after half-time before a brace of maul tries by replacement hooker Danny Sheehan ensured Con of the win. A second try by centre and captain James Tarrant ensured two bonus points for UCD for the second week running.
A big crowd witnessed an entertaining Limerick derby at Tom Clifford Park in a Saturday teatime game where two tries by the largely uncontainable Bryan Fitzgerald and one by Munster academy outhalf Dylan Hicks in his 14-point haul had Garryowen on course to end a seven-match losing run.
But although Young Munster’s outhalf Julian Leszczynski missed the conversion to Stephen McLoughlin’s bonus-point try, the Argentinian landed a late penalty to seal a 25-24 win for the home side.
Old Belvedere maintained their hot pace in 1B with a 51-10 win in Naas, while second-placed Nenagh Ormond moved 10 points clear of the rest with a 34-25 win at UCC. Ryan Baird had some game-time off the bench in Dublin University’s 13-10 home win over Blackrock College
Similarly, Instonians stayed atop 2B with a 33-21 win at home to Banbridge following Corinthians’ 64-0 Friday night win over free-falling Buccaneers. The match featured a hat-trick by hooker Max Holmes and a brace apiece for the Ireland under-20s and Connacht academy duo of centre John Devine and Seán Naughton, who scored 24 points. MU Barnhall leapfrogged Cashel with a 30-17 win at Parsonstown.
Wanderers stay top of 2B despite a 26-24 loss in Skerries, while Galwegians made up some ground from seven narrow defeats with 24-7 win in Sligo. Midleton fought back for a late draw at Virgin Media Park to maintain their eight-point lead over Dolphin atop 2C.
Energia All-Ireland League results
Men’s Division 1A: Lansdowne 26 St Mary’s College 32; Clontarf 35 City of Armagh 25; Cork Constitution 38 UCD 33; Terenure College 24 Ballynahinch 3; Young Munster 25 Garryowen 24.
Division 1B: Shannon 18 Highfield 21; Dublin University 13 Blackrock College 10; Naas 10 Old Belvedere 51; Queen’s 19 Old Wesley 14; UCC 25 Nenagh Ormond 34.
Division 2A: Corinthians 64 Buccaneers 0; MU Barnhall 30 Cashel 17; Greystones 29 Old Crescent 22; Instonians 33 Banbridge 21; Navan 22 Ballymena 21.
Division 2B: Sligo 7 Galwegians 24; Dungannon 31 Malone 14; Malahide 22 UL Bohemian 17; Rainey 32 Clogher Valley 20; Skerries 26 Wanderers 24.
Division 2C: Belfast Harlequins 21 Ballyclare 21; Clonmel 28 Bruff 22; Dolphin 15 Midleton 15; Monkstown 29 Enniscorthy 40; Omagh Academicals 10 Tullamore 17.
Women’s Division: Blackrock College 26 Suttonians 5; Galwegians 11 UL Bohemian 53; Railway Union 91 Ballincollig 0; Old Belvedere 60 Tullow 0; Wicklow 64 Cooke 0.
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