UCD's second-half show swings it

COLOURS MATCH/UCD 31 Dublin University 9:SCRUMHALF ROB Shanley, wing Sam Coghlan-Murray and replacement centre Alex Kelly pounced for second-half tries to swing the 60th Colours Match in UCD's favour at Donnybrook last night.

Trinity started with five forwards earning their first ‘colours’. It didn’t show. They enjoyed the better of the opening skirmishes, their captain David Joyce kicking two penalties for a 6-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

A superb tackle by Trinity centre Ciaran Wade on left wing Tom Fletcher from a beautifully executed cross-field ball by outhalf Niall Earls saved a certain try. College gained consolation from two quick-fire penalties from Earls for a 9-6 edge before Joyce equalised on the whistle of half-time.

Shanley made the decisive breakthrough by splitting the Trinity blindside defence for the first try in the 43rd minute. Earls could not make the conversion, but he was back for another penalty in the 58th minute to make it a two-score match.

The introduction of College’s strong bench, including Ireland under-20s James Treacy, David Doyle and Alan O’Connor, had the desired effect. They wrestled control of the ball for wing Coghlan-Murray and centre Kelly to make their possession tell.

UCD: M Twomey; S Coghlan-Murray, A Cummiskey (capt), D Lynch, T Fletcher; N Earls, R Shanley; K Moloney, N Foley, B Hall; B Cawley, K McKenna; D Kenny, M McGroarty, S Grannell. Replacements: R Bent for Kenny (32 mins), A Kelly for Lynch (39 mins), J Treacy for Hall, D Doyle for Foley (both h-t), J Thornton for Earls (51-56 mins and 62 mins) P du Toit for Shanley, A O’Connor for Cawley (both 65 mins).

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: J O’Donoghue; N Hanratty, C Wade, P Lavelle, N Adeoloqun; D Joyce (capt), M McLoughlin; I Hirst, W Larkin, P McFeely; C MacDonnell, J Kelly; C Good, D Gallagher, J Dilger. Replacements: T O’Mahony for Larkin, B O’Connell for Goode (both 32 mins), W Larkin for O’Mahony (47 mins), E Tate for McFeely (49 mins), J Mackey for Kelly (51 mins) A Robles for Hanratty (56 mins), B Glynn for McLoughlin, P McFeely for Tate, T O’Mahony for Larkin, (all 62 mins), R Cruess-Callaghan for Lavelle 65 mins.

Referee: B McNeice (IRFU).

Ulster Ravens made it two wins from two in the British and Irish Cup after beating Scottish side Currie, 28-13, at Malleny Park, last night. Currie were not helped by collecting two yellow cards.

Ravens had a first-half penalty try after Currie offences in the scrum and in the second half crossed for two late tries through Ricky Andrew and winger Chris Cochrane. Outhalf James McKinney hit three penalties and two conversions.

For Currie winger Dave Smith scored a first-half try and outhalf Jamie Forbes kicked a conversion and two penalty goals.

ULSTER RAVENS: P Nelson (R Andrew 40); C Gaston, M Allen (C Quinn 49), I Whitten, C Cochrane; J McKinney, B McIlroy; C Black, A Kyriacou, C Carey (R Lutton 60), T Barker (J Simpson 79), N McComb, C Joyce, A Birch (N Fallon 60), S O’Connell.