Weekend Rugby Roundup

The main action of the weekend focused on the Women’s All Ireland League and Munster Junior League, but the leaders in all the Divisions held on to their positions, as the league enters the home straight.

U.L. Bohemian maintained their unbeaten run in the Women’s All Ireland League with a 58-17 victory away to Tullow. Caoimhe Murphy, Chloe Pearse and Clara Barrett each scored two tries, and Anais Jubin, Maddy Kushner, Mary Maher and Holly O’Dwyer got one each. Barrett kicked four conversions.

Railway Union proved too strong for Ennis running out 50-0 winners at Willow Lodge.

A cracking encounter at Ashtown Lane, saw Wicklow edge out Ballincollig 22-21. Aoife Madigan, Awatere McLean-Wanes and Aoife Fleming scored tries for Ballincollig and Emma Connolly converted all three tries.

In the Munster Junior League Division 1, leaders Kilfeacle’s game away to Thurles was postponed, but second placed Clonakilty failed to close the gap, as they lost the big West Cork derby at home to Bandon 19-7. The visitors led 14-0 at half time with tries from Matthew Crowley and Dan Lane and both were converted by Daniel Coughlan. Ralph O’Mahony scored a third try for Bandon and Ben Lovell replied with a try for Clonakilty, which Eoin Downey converted.

Mallow in third place, defeated St. Mary’s 21-14, with tries from Sean O’Riordan, Dylan Walsh and Dave Breen, all of which Riley Harrison converted. Nathan Walsh and Rob Guerin scored tries for the Limerick side and both were converted by Adam Guerin.

Sunday’s Well staged a second half comeback, having trailed 24-5 after thirty minutes, to defeat Kanturk 27-24 at the Duhallow venue. Alex Guerin, JJ Puna, Aaron Walker and John Costello scored tries for the ‘Well and Jazz Pendejito kicked two conversions and a penalty. Daniel O’Connell, Stephen McAuliffe and Eanna O’Mahony replied with tries for Kanturk and McAuliffe kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Richmond defeated Old Christians 23-18 in a mid-table contest at Canal Bank. Shane Purcell scored a try, conversion and two penalties for Richmond and Aidan Walter and Osama Farag also scored tries. Conor Kiely, Dave Ahern and Laz Rabatin replied with tries for Old Christians and Sammy Haberlan kicked a penalty.

Newcastle West edged out Skibbereen 31-26 in a thrilling encounter at the West Limerick venue. Sean Corbett, Gerald Griffin, Liam Carty and Shane Airey scored tries for the home side and they were also awarded a penalty try. James Guina kicked two conversions. Tom Beare replied with two tries for Skibb’ and Chris Benn and Rawiri Wereta got one each, with David Shannon kicking three conversions.

Clanwilliam eased their relegation worries with a 59-15 home win over bottom side Muskerry. Niall Sharpe, David O’Brien, Niall Leahy and Eireamhoin McCarthy got two tries each and Gavin Downey one. Leahy kicked seven conversions. Ivan Walsh and Liam Donovan replied with tries for Muskerry; Olan Cahill kicked a conversion and Rob Cahill a penalty.

Both Crosshaven and Kinsale took another step closer to promotion from the Second Division with away victories.

Leaders Crosshaven were pushed all the way by Charleville before coming away from the North Cork venue with a 22-17 win. Harry O’Connell scored two tries for Crosshaven and Pa Cotter got one. Jack O’Connell kicked two conversions and a penalty.  Jessie Smith and David Forde were the Charleville try scorers and Kian Smith converted both and also added a penalty.

Kinsale travelled to Abbeyfeale and defeated the home side 75-10. Erhan Farley, Paul Graham and David Looney each scored two tries and Timmy Lynch, James O’Donovan, Tom Good, David Ogden and Dylan Lacey also scored tries. Lacey kicked nine conversions and Sean Kingston one. Jamie O’Sullivan and Cody Greaney were the Abbeyfeale try scorers.

Youghal’s promotion hopes received a set back as they lost away to St. Senan’s 46-37. Mikey Quinn, Brian Collins, Ruan Rooker and Rian Sloan scored tries for Senan’s. Declan Rowe kicked six penalties and four conversions. Tom Sheehan, Oisin O’Dwyer, Pa O’Shea, Bobby Nicholson, Ruaidhrí McSweeney Jordan Yellop replied with tries for Youghal and Nathan O’Halloran kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Waterpark edged out Ballincollig 24-22. Brandon Vosloo, Peter Traynor and Dean McGovern were the Waterpark try scorers. Dermot Lannen kicked two conversions and a penalty, and Nick O’Donoghue added a conversion. Conor Donovan replied with two tries for Ballincollig and Diarmuid Phelan added a try, penalty and two conversions.

A late try earned Ennis a share of the spoils, as they drew with Cobh Pirates 19-19. The Pirates led 19-0 at the interval with tries from Jack Worrall and Josh Crone and the were also awarded a penalty try. Mike White kicked one conversion. Brendan Keane, Keelan Butler and Callum Barrett scored tries for Ennis and Barrett kicked two conversions.

Carrick-on-Suir recorded an impressive 40-15 away in Castleisland. Jack Boylan scored four of Carrick’s six tries, with Neil Moriarty and Oscar Geoghan being the other try scorers. Brandon Wheeler kicked five conversions. Darren O’Donoghue and John Bell replied with tries for Castleisland and Joe Sheehy kicked a penalty and a conversion.

Fermoy defeated Fethard 31-14 to move further away from the relegation zone. Ian Pratt, Darragh O’Sullivan, Jack Duggan, Peter Finn and Eoin Lacey scored tries for Fermoy and Lacey added three conversions. Robert Wall and Evan Looby replied with tries for Fethard and Peter Wall converted both.

Killarney moved another step closer to promotion from Division 3, after their 30-0 away win at Douglas. Paul O’Sullivan and Adam Walsh each scored two tries for the Kerry side and Matt McAuliffe got one. Ciaran O’Brien kicked a penalty and a conversion.

Tralee lost valuable ground in their promotion push, as they suffered 25-21 defeat away to Dungarvan. Gavin Peevers, Robbie Murphy and Guilherme Ventura scored tries for Tralee and Stephen Turner converted all three.

Killorglin kept their push alive with a 61-14 win against Corca Dhuibhne. James Byrnes and amie O’Leary each scored three tries for the winners, and Cormac Doyle, Joe Langham and Timmy Lynch got one apiece. Luke O’Shea kicked eight conversions. Michael Walsh replied with two tries for Corca Dhuibhne.

Scariff also kept their promotion hopes alive with a 38-5 home win against Waterford City. Martin Daly (2), Anthony Hallihan, Evan McMahon, Mark Walsh and Sean Tracey were the try scorers for Scariff. Alex Boblea kicked four conversions.

Galbally-Mitchelstown travelled to Bantry and won 15-8. Oisin Walsh and Graham Bourke scored tries for the winners and Bourke kicked a conversion and a penalty. Bryan Tooher replied with a try for Bantry and Stephen O’Donoghue kicked a penalty.