Old Belvedere Dig Deep For Away Win
UL Bohemians suffered a seven-point defeat as a defensively-dominant Old Belvedere side took the AIB League spoils on offer at Annacotty on Saturday afternoon.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, February 22
UL BOHEMIANS 6 OLD BELVEDERE 13, Annacotty
Scorers: UL Bohemians: Pens: Aidan McNulty, Fergal Lawlor
Old Belvedere: Try: Marcus McAllister; Con: Ruairi Cushion; Pens: Ruairi Cushion 2
Replacement winger Marcus McAllister broke through for a first half try as UL, who were without inspirational flanker Tommy O’Donnell, were made to pay for a series of missed tackles.
Belvedere had the wind at their backs in the opening half and Ruairi Cushion’s conversion and two penalty goals steered them to a 13-3 half-time lead, with Aidan McNulty accounting for the home side’s points.
The Dublin 4 outfit held the edge in the tackle area and in the scrum and that was vital as Bohs threw everything they could at the visitors in the second period.
With AIB Club international squad member Ed Torrie aiding their cause, UL enjoyed the lion’s share of possession after the break but time and again, they were foiled by the men in white and black.
Fergal Lawlor picked off a late penalty for Bohs, who got close to scoring tries on two separate occasions.
But Belvedere hung on to claim their fifth win of the league campaign, after losing last time out to St. Mary’s.