UCD 33
OLD BELVEDERE 26
A SUPERB 18 points from the boot of James Thornton were vital at Belfield yesterday afternoon, as UCD held off a strong second-half fightback.
UCD had made a superb start to the contest with a fine Andy Boyle try , converted by Thornton after just three minutes, but Belvo were quick to respond with a five-pointer of their own from the evergreen John Kennedy. Eight points from the deadly accurate Thornton, as well as a second try from the lively Boyle, helped the Students to restore their superiority, and even though Conor Power reached over for the visitors seven minutes before the interval, a stoppage time touchdown from No 8 Eoin Joyce gave the hosts a seemingly comfortable 27-12 mid-way advantage.
However, it was Belvo who were the dominant team upon the resumption, and although Thornton was once more on target from a three-point opportunity, a brace of clinical tries by full-back Danny Riordan (converted on both occasions by Shawn Beirne) ensured that the points were up for grabs in the closing stages.
UCD held firm in the end, however, as Thornton’s fourth penalty of the day meant that Old Belvedere fell just short of producing an extraordinary comeback.