AIB League: Division 2 Round-Up
De La Salle Palmerston made it two wins in three AIB League Division 2 games as they beat bottom side Greystones to move up to second in the standings. Meanwhile, Clonakilty collected their third win of the campaign with a bonus point triumph over their Cork rivals Highfield.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 2 RESULTS –
Clonakilty 32 Highfield 8, Shannonvale Cross
Greystones 7 De La Salle Palmerston 25, Dr. Hickey Park
Bective Rangers 11 Dublin University 17, Donnybrook (played on Wednesday)
Clonakilty have climbed away from the relegation zone, with back-to-back wins moving them up to eleventh in the AIB League Division 2 table.
Clon beat their local rivals Highfield with plenty to spare, running out 32-8 victors at Shannonvale Cross. They were 20-8 to the good at half-time, with Kurt Morath kicking two early penalties and converting tries from Tom Ryan and Noel O’Sullivan.
They collected what could prove to be a vital bonus point when O’Sullivan and John O’Donnell crossed the Highfield whitewash in the second half. David Kelly’s try, with seven minutes remaining, was only a consolation score for a Highfield side that sits second-from-bottom.
Meanwhile, Dublin University moved into eighth place last Wednesday courtesy of a 17-11 victory over high-flying Bective Rangers under the Donnybrook floodlights.
The Trinity students settled early and two penalties from out-half Dave Joyce sent them in front. Joyce had a hand in the opening try, sending up a perfectly-weighted cross-field for left winger Colin Murphy to collect, fend off the last defender and score.
Recent Ulster Ravens debutant Scott LaValla also played his part in the build-up, carrying the ball a full 70 metres before he was hauled down inside the Bective 22.
The place-kickers swapped penalties as Dublin University took an 11-3 lead into the break. Bective increased their effort and gradually made some in-roads.
Three successful penalties followed – two for the visitors – before Bective touched down in the corner with eight minutes to go, taking advantage of a Trinity sin-binning.
But Tony Smeeth’s young Trinity side owned possession in the closing minutes, playing down the clock in the Bective half to see out a hard-fought but deserved win.