Tries: Ivan Soroka, Matt D’Arcy, Thomas Byrne; Cons: David Joyce 2; Pens: David Joyce 3
Try: Andrew Boyle
Ariel Robles; Jimmy Hawkshaw, Evan Ryan, Matt D’Arcy, Dan Hanratty; David Joyce, SamCronin; Ivan Soroka, Jonathan Larbey, Royce Burke Flynn, Tom Byrne, Conor O’Keeffe, Liam Murphy, Adrian D’Arcy, Tony Ryan.
Replacements used: David Hegarty for Ryan (28 mins), Karl Moran for Burke Flynn (54),Cian Culleton for Murphy (74), Mark Sutton for Hanratty (80+1).
Billy Dardis; Andrew Boyle, Garry Ringrose, Stephen Murphy, Tom Fletcher; Liam Bourke, Bobby Holland; Gordon Frayne, Risteard Byrne, Liam Hyland, Michael Cawley, Emmet MacMahon, Josh Murphy, David Fortune, Donagh Lawler.
Replacements used: Andy Murphy for Cawley (49 mins), James Harrison for Byrne, Harry McNulty for Fletcher, Sean McNulty for Hyland (all 70).
Before securing the Division 1A title last season, ‘Tarf had suffered back-to-back defeats to Lansdowne and the students from Belfield, so they were fully aware of the potential that UCD possessed.
The extremely wet conditions meant that both sides were concentrating on defence for much of the opening quarter of this Friday Night Lights clash which was streamed live here on www.IrishRugby.ie.
Although UCD made excellent inroads through Billy Dardis and Garry Ringrose early on, Clontarf eventually held firm to develop a series of attacking phases.
After a lengthy advantage was given by referee Mark Connolly following a Dardis knock-on, Joyce was presented with a 25-metre penalty opportunity and he duly split the posts in the 16th minute.
Classy centre Ringrose almost manufactured a try from the subsequent passage of play, creating a gap in the heart of the ‘Tarf defence. He was eventually halted just inside the 22 but it was another sign of what UCD were capable of.
Although the visitors enjoyed a sustained spell of possession just past the 20-minute mark, Clontarf doubled their advantage with a second successful penalty from Tullamore man Joyce.
The students’ out-half Liam Bourke missed the conversion and watched his well-struck 35th minute penalty effort dip under the crossbar from a tight angle on the right.
The reliable Joyce responded with another surefooted penalty at the other end, giving his side a slender 9-5 cushion to take into the second period.
With the rainfall increasing substantially, handling was becoming an issue for both sets of players. Clontarf created most of the chances during the third quarter, but heroic defensive work from UCD ensured that the game was still in the melting pot on the hour.
Joyce, who had difficulties off the kicking tee against Lansdowne last week, had no issues with his fourth place-kick of the game and he also added the extras to centre Matt D’Arcy’s try after 68 minutes. Replacement David Hegarty was close to crashing over on this occasion, before scrum halfSam Cronin spread the ball across to D’Arcy out on the left wing.
With the outcome beyond any doubt at 23-5, it was now a matter of Clontarf playing out the remaining minutes and when they developed a maul late on, second row Thomas Byrne touched down to complete a fine evening’s work for the title holders.