Ulster Bank League: Division 1B Review
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UCC boosted their survival hopes in Division 1B with a hard-earned 19-9 derby win over Dolphin at Irish Independent Park last night.
DOLPHIN 9 UCC 19, Irish Independent Park
Scorers: Dolphin: Pens: Barry Keeshan 3
UCC: Try: Conor Barry; Con: Kevin O'Keeffe; Pens: Kevin O'Keeffe 4
HT: Dolphin 3 UCC 13
Goal-kicking winger Kevin O'Keeffe was UCC's hero with a crucial 14-point contribution off the tee, taking his haul for the league campaign to 96 points after 11 rounds.
The nerves were obvious with both teams struggling for form at the wrong end of the table, however a more cohesive first half display from UCC helped them to end their three-match losing run and rise to seventh in the standings.
O'Keeffe was right in the thick of the action early on, swapping penalties with Dolphin veteran Barry Keeshan before he was bundled into touch as the hosts avoided the concession of an eighth minute try.
UCC's pace was troubling the division's bottom side and Dolphin were left trailing 13-3 at half-time, O'Keeffe converting a terrific solo try from flanker Conor Barry - his fifth of the season - and adding another penalty just before the interval.
Blindside Barry, who missed last week's home defeat to UL Bohemians, was back with a bang, shrugging off three would-be tacklers to score by the posts and give his side a serious lift.
Try-scoring opportunities were few and far between in a tightly-contested second period. The Cork rivals were content to live off penalty opportunities, out-half Keeshan drawing Dolphin closer with a 49th minute success.
Having missed a 53rd minute penalty, O'Keeffe was back on target entering the final quarter and the 10-point margin remained after Dolphin full-back Cillian Monahan kicked wide a couple of minutes later.
Keeshan split the posts again to set up a grandstand finish at 16-9 down, however in their efforts to get back level, David Corkery's charges leaked a costly penalty which took away their losing bonus point. O'Keeffe knocked it over with the last kick of a keenly-contested game.
GALWEGIANS 14 BUCCANEERS 25, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: Morgan Codyre, Aidan Moynihan; Cons: Aidan Moynihan 2
Buccaneers: Tries: John Sutton, Jordan Conroy 2, Alan Gaughan; Con: Alan Gaughan; Pen: Alan Gaughan
HT: Galwegians 14 Buccaneers 15
Jordan Conroy crossed for his ninth and tenth tries of the campaign as Buccaneers strengthened their grip on top spot in Division 1B with a 25-14 derby victory at Galwegians.
Despite showing huge commitment throughout and benefiting from a barnstorming two-try start, 'Wegians were held scoreless in the second half and eventually fell to their second successive league defeat of 2017.
In damp underfoot conditions, Alan Gaughan's penalty saw Buccs nip in front but a thrilling breakaway try in the 12th minute got the Galwegians attack firing. Full-back Morgan Codyre put the finishing touches to a move inspired by an Aidan Moynihan chip which was fielded by captain Brian Murphy.
Brian McClearn's men ended the first quarter with a 14-3 lead after out-half Moynihan brilliantly stepped inside the Buccs cover to score and add his second successful conversion of the evening.
The Pirates rebounded in impressive fashion, Shane Layden carrying more of a threat in midfield before a muscular 20-metre maul from the Buccs pack set up hooker John Sutton for a 27th-minute converted try.
Flying winger and Ireland Sevens international Conroy then got in on the scoring act, gathering Gaughan's pinpoint cross-field kick to dot down five minutes before the break. The conversion was missed but the league leaders were ahead by the minimum - 15-14.
Crucially, 'Wegians had nothing to show for a strong spell early in the second period, their forwards being held up before a knock-on saw them cough up hard-earned territory. Moynihan was also wide with a penalty attempt.
Despite losing Layden to the sin-bin, Buccs got their own back with a breakaway try of their own, Gaughan crossing the whitewash out wide, and patient build-up play was rewarded in the 79th minute when Conroy completed his brace in the corner, securing the bonus point for Brett Wilkinson's outfit and erasing 'Wegians' one in the process.
BALLYMENA 12 BALLYNAHINCH 24, Eaton Park
Scorers: Ballymena: Tries: Penalty try, Glenn Baillie; Con: Mark Best
Ballynahinch: Tries: Penalty try, James Simpson, Jordan Grattan; Cons: Blane McIlroy 3; Pen: Blane McIlroy
HT: Ballymena 0 Ballynahinch 10
Ballynahinch outscored Ulster rivals Ballymena by three tries to two to finish as 24-12 winners of last night's provincial derby at Eaton Park.
'Hinch had lost by a similar scoreline when they hosted the Braidmen in November, but 10 first half points without reply laid the foundations for their latest league victory.
Continuing where they left off against Dolphin, Derek Suffern's side exerted the early pressure with flanker Lorcan Dow making an eye-catching break and scrum half Blane McIlroy, himself a former Ballymena player, landing a penalty.
In slippery and worsening conditions, fit-again 'Hinch full-back Peter Nelson just missed out on his second try in as many games as he went close from a neat kick through from Jordan Grattan.
Ballymena fell further behind when a late tackle on young lock Donnan saw referee Mark Patton award a penalty try to the County Down outfit, with McIlroy supplying the extras for a 10-0 lead.
Ulster's Brett Herron, who partnered John Creighton at half-back, could have given the Braidmen a boost just before half-time but he missed a straightforward penalty following a high tackle.
The sides scored two tries apiece in the second half but notably Ballymena were unable to recapture the form they showed during the closing 40 minutes of last week's draw with table toppers Buccaneers.
They allowed 'Hinch to move 24 points clear thanks to tries from vice-captain James Simpson and tricky centre Grattan, who offered a regular threat with ball in hand.
Simpson's second row partner Donnan saw yellow for a high tackle, allowing the home side to force the issue with their robust scrum earning them a penalty try, converted by Mark Best.
Further scrum pressure led to a second 'Hinch sin-binning - tighthead Andrew Weir was the guilty party - and as Ballymena pinned the visitors back during a dominant closing spell, replacement Glenn Baillie wrapped up the scoring with a late five-pointer.
'Hinch's encouraging early form in 2017 has lifted them temporarily up to third in the table, ahead of today's meeting of Old Wesley and Shannon, while sixth-placed Ballymena are now without a win in their last three league matches.
