Review of the weekend All Ireland League rugby action
DIVISION 2A:
Blackrock College 30 Galwegians 20
Cashel 26 Dolphin 10
Navan 36 Nenagh Ormond 16
Queen’s University 19 Old Crescent 21
UL Bohemians 10 Highfield 36
DIVISION 2B:
Dungannon 28 Skerries 25
Corinthians 11 Belfast Harlequins 15
MU Barnhall 36 Rainey Old Boys 14
Sunday’s Well 20 Sligo 17
Wanderers 17 Greystones 24
DIVISION 2C:
Ballina 23 Omagh 19
City of Derry 29 Tullamore 15
Malahide 19 Bangor 44
Midleton 35 Bruff 8
Thomond 33 Seapoint 22
FEATURE MATCH
Queen’s University 19 Old Crescent 21
Queen’s had to settle for a losing bonus point against Old Crescent as they started their Division 2A campaign with a two point defeat at the Dub
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges and were reward with two quick scores.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOut half Ronan McKenna landed a penalty after six minutes, Queen’s kicked the restart out on the full, from the resulting scrum the Limerick side exploited a huge gap in the students defence and full back Brian Tuohy coasted over for an unconverted try.
Queen’s struck back immediately, following their first sustained period in the Old Crescent 22 centre Conor McKee crashed over from close range with Ritchie McMaster converting.
McKenna was on target with his second penalty on 31 minutes after Queen’s infringed in midfield.
Crescent went into the break with a 14-7 lead after McKenna slotted over another penalty after Queen’s collapsed a scrum.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCrescent got their second try five minutes after the restart, they pushed the home pack off their own ball from a defensive scrum in the 22 and replacement hooker Mark Rickard barged over from close range with McKenna converting.
Andy McGrath’s surging run opened up the Old Crescent defence, he carried from the hallway line to the 22 before popping a pass to full back Johnny Milliken to score with McMaster converting.
Queen’s wasted a glorious chance as they worked the ball through a number of phases in the visitor’s 22 before the backs spread the ball wide but Milliken’s try scoring pass to Johnny Hunter was forward.
The Students got their third try on 72 minutes lock Stuart Evans was held up over the line from the resulting five metre scrum pivot Conor McAuley made a sniping blindside break to dart over but McMaster failed to convert from a tight angle.
Old Crescent had prop Alex Simpson sin binned on 75 minutes for his part in a melee but Queen’s were unable to create any chances in the closing stages and the Limerick side held on for victory.