1st XV vs Banbridge (45 – 14)
Ulster Senior League
With two games to play, Dungannon are now just one point short of retaining the Stevenson Shield. For the eighth time in nine outings Dungannon lifted a full compliment of points in their 45-14 win over Banbridge at Rifle Park. With Armagh doing their near neighbours a favour with an easy 19-12 win against Harlequins the League title race is likely to finish sooner rather than later.
Conditions were fine for a running game at Banbridge but it was the lively home pack that applied early pressure. A penalty to the corner allowed Bann to set up a driving maul. Dungannon defended well as the maul moved across field before Chris Allen broke clear near the posts. He was held but Bann skipper, Simon McKinstry was up in support to touch down at the posts. Brendan Ward converted on four minutes.
7 – 0
Dungannon reacted strongly via the pack with Glen Sinnamon, Paul Jackson and Mark Farquhar to the fore, play soon moved into the Banbridge twenty-two. A pick up by James McMahon saw the ball move left for Michael Lawton to glide in on seven minutes. The same player added the extras and the sides were level.
7 – 7
With Mark Jenkinson performing well in the lineout it wasn’t long before Dungannon were back on the offensive. Bann held the threat for a time but a timely switch to the left saw Mark O’ Shea burst through for Lawton to convert after fifteen minutes.
7 – 14
Now in the lead Dungannon continued to look dangerous despite a tense battle up front. Referee Reavey had difficulty at times in the contact area but a first penalty award put the Visitor’s back on the front foot. A fine piece of passing between several pairs of hands was well defended but Michael Lawton soon found a gap to score in the left hand corner on thirty-three minutes. He added a superb conversion.
7 – 21
Bann thwarted Dungannon’s next attacking move before Rowan Halsall reversed a turnover and sped off for a seventy metre run, David Egner took the final pass before rounding the defence for the bonus point try that Michael Lawton converted.
7 – 28
The second period started with a tense forward battle until Dungannon were awarded a penalty for obstruction that earned the Bann fullback a yellow card after forty-four minutes. The visitors pressed forward but a diagonal kick for Darren Simpson was overcooked. However, a delayed lineout throw gave the Dungannon a free for Lawton to run clear and complete his hat trick after forty-seven minutes.
7 – 33
Three minutes later Skipper Jenkinson broke away from a scrappy maul and made the hard yards before Jason Bloomfield touched down at the posts. Michael Lawton’s conversion was a formality.
7 – 40
The quality of the final quarter was poor before the Bann pack took advantage with a try from Jonny Weir. Andrew Kirkwood converted.
14 – 40
Dungannon finished the game at the other end with the industrious James McMahon diving over for the Visitor’s seventh try.
14 – 45
Dungannon now need one point from a potential ten with games against Ballynahinch and Armagh to play next month.
Team: Michael Lawton. Stuart Lester, Mark O’Shea, Stuart McCloskey, David Egner. Jaryd Bennett, Michael Kirkwood. Glen Sinnamon, Paul Jackson, Mark Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson (Capt), Timothy Smith.. Callum Threlfall, Rowan Halsall, James McMahon. Adam Duhig, Philip Whyte, Paul McCarroll, Jason Bloomfield, Darren Simpson. .
Referee: Adrian Reavey (Portadown)
Tries: Michael Lawton (3), Mark O’Shea, David Egner, Jason Bloomfield & James McMahon
Conversions: Michael Lawton (5)
Penalties:
2nd XV vs Lisburn (29 – 19)
Kukri Conference League
This was a game full of endeavour but littered with too many basic errors to ever hit the high spots. Dungannon built up a decent lead and although Lisburn came back second half they never got close enough to test the Host’s resolve.
The opening exchanges were fairly even but a mistake in the Lisburn defence allowed Dungannon to force a carry over. From the ensuing five metre scrum David Spence engineered a try for himself on twelve minutes.
5 – 0
Penalties were missed by both sides but Dungannon, with Plunkett McCallon to the fore, were now starting to build up some momentum. However it was Lisburn who almost took the lead. A pick up and some neat footwork from number 8 Ross Hendron sent to his open side away under the posts. Fortunately for Dungannon referee Pickles spotted an incident of crossing and awarded a penalty much to the anguish of watching Lisburn President Leslie Bracken. Dungannon had a series of great opportunities to score but the old whitewash fever took hold. Dungannon continued to press and after the half hour Peter Keightley made space for Gareth Graham who scrambled over for a try that Plunkett McCallon converted.
12 – 0
Shortly after Plunkett converted a penalty before more good work by the pack allowed Gareth Graham to send Jonny Toal away for a try on the stroke of halftime. Robin McCleary converted.
22 -0
Dungannon started the second half brightly with a Jerome McClure run brining play into the Lisburn half. A promising Lisburn attack was nipped in the bud by a thumping Ben Howard tackle. Lisburn worked their way up to the Dungannon line and when awarded a penalty they elected to kick to the corner. From the subsequent play hooker Matt Edgar barged over on fifty minutes.
22 – 5
Ben Kennedy having his first game at full back for many a year put in a steaming kick that he followed up forcing the defender to hurry his kick. This brought play from one twenty-two to the other. Dungannon kept possession and when Gareth Graham put in a beautifully weighted kick Jonny Toal outstripped the defence to win the touchdown. Plunkett goaled with a magnificently nonchalant touchline conversion,
29 – 5
Dungannon relaxed and Lisburn took full advantage. A neat move between Ross Heron and Robin Brown resulted in the former scoring a try that the latter converted on seventy minutes.
29 -12
Five minutes later and Lisburn got a further reward for their enterprise. This time stand-in scrum half Brown scored a self converted try on the left.
29 – 19
Dungannon now realised that they had to up their game. A good move by the backs saw Mark Faloon and Jerome McClure combine to put Gannon well and truly into the Lisburn twenty-two. The experience of Spence, Potter and Fletcher ensured that Gannon stayed in the Lisburn half as the Hosts ran the clock down.
Not a great spectacle but a good game from the point that some young players got their opportunity and came through with flying colours. It was also good to see Ben Kennedy back on the pitch.
Team: Ben Kennedy. Jonny Toal, Mark Faloon, Richard Fletcher, Jerome McClure, Gareth Graham, David Spence. Ben Howard, Kirby Hamilton, Neil McGinley, Rodney Blair, Plunkett McCallon. Robin McCleary, Simon Potter, Peter Keightley
Referee: Michael Pickles (Enniskillen)
Tries: David Spence, Jonny Toal (2) & Gareth Graham.
Conversions: Robin McCleary & Plunkett McCallon (2)
Penalties Plunkett McCallon
4th XV vs Armagh (17 – 14)
Forster Cup
This Forster Cup Quarter Final was predicted to be a tight match and it proved to be correct with only three points separating the teams at the end. Dungannon got their noses in front and held on for a 17-14 win.
Dungannon went on the offensive and after a sustained assault by the pack some quick thinking by Skipper Knipe resulted in Kevin McElduff going over in the corner.
0 – 5
More good work by the pack saw Clive Weir barge his way over for a try converted by Richard Wright.
0 – 12
Armagh were the first to score in the second half when their backs got room to move and scored a converted try.
7 – 12
A sustained drive by Gannon gave Gareth Lucas their third try.
7 – 17
On the hour Armagh showed their paces and their centre went over for a converted try.
14 – 17
After a tense nervous closing quarter it was the blue and white men who raised a cheer at the end and are now into the semi final where they play Banbridge IV XV.
A good game to watch with the Dungannon pack having the edge but Armagh’s classy backs were a handful.
Team: Cormac Convery. Conor Mackle, Philip Martin, Steven Martin, Kevin McElduff. Richard Wright, Julian Knipe (Capt). Wallace McKay, Rodney Lucas, Darran Lucas. Gareth Lucas, Clive Weir. Declan Treanor, Adam Booth, Richard Holmes.
Referee: Jonny Graham
Tries: Kevin McElduff, Clive Weir & Gareth Lucas .
Conversions: Richard Wright
Penalties:
Drop Goal:
