RUGBY ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: St Mar's College 22 Clontarf 20:ST MARY'S COLLEGE put themselves right back into the title race with a dramatic late Division 1A success over Clontarf at Templeville Road on Saturday.
As the game entered the closing stages, St Mary’s coach Peter Smyth admitted he would have settled for a losing bonus point. His team had fallen 20-15 behind and were playing into a strong wind.
But they managed one final effort, which saw them apply considerable pressure. After Clontarf’s secondrow Tim Chipman was sinbinned for a professional foul, the St Mary’s pack took full advantage, holding on to possession through numerous phases, before outhalf Philip Brophy went over to the right of the posts.
Fullback Gavin Dunne then held his nerve with the final kick of the game to add the conversion. The win brings the Templeville Road club up to third in the table, now only trailing second-placed Clontarf on points difference.
Not bad for a team that lost two of their first three games. But they have now put together a run of four successive victories, which marks them down as genuine contenders in a very open title race.
So, for that matter, are Clontarf, despite Saturday’s second loss of their campaign. They are entitled to feel disappointed, having come from 12-0 down to establish their 20-15 second-half advantage.
St Mary’s had to be satisfied with a 15-7 lead after playing with the wind in the first half. They had tries from hooker Richie Sweeney and replacement prop Jack McGrath, while Dunne landed one conversion and a penalty.
But a try from their number eight Frank Cogan, converted by Richie Lane shortly before the interval, put Clontarf in with a great chance. Playing with the wind in the second half, they gradually pegged back their rivals in what was a very good contest.
Lane was the key figure, crossing for a try midway, converting it and adding two penalties.
Although they had lost influential skipper Barry O’Mahony through injury, Clontarf seemed to have done enough. But they hadn’t reckoned on St Mary’s late surge.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE:G Dunne; D Hudson, S Grissing, M Sexton, C Hogan; P Brophy, M D'Arcy; C McMahon, Richard Sweeney, Robert Sweeney, G Logan, D Hall, C Ruddock, G Austin, H Hogan (capt). Replacements used: J McGrath, S Bradshaw, C Liully, M O'Driscoll.
CLONTARF:N Reid; R Lane, K Lett, C O'Shea, T McCoy; E Ryan, S Cronin; B Barclay, A Dundon, N Treston, C O'Keeffe, J Chipman, S Crawford, B O'Mahony (capt), F Cogan. Replacements used: D O'Shea, A Darcy, D O'Meara.
Referee: S McDowell
