OLD BELVEDERE 13 CLONTARF 36, Anglesea Road
Scorers: Old Belvedere: Try: Ed Rossiter; Con: Willie Staunton; Pens: Willie Staunton 2
Clontarf: Tries: Sean Long, Michael Noone 3, Matt D’Arcy; Cons: David Joyce 2, Rob Keogh 2; Pen: David Joyce
HT: Old Belvedere 7 Clontarf 15
Michael Noone was Clontarf’s hat-trick hero as the defending Ulster Bank League champions continued their quest for back-to-back titles with a commanding 36-13 bonus point win at Old Belvedere.
Three tries from number 8 Noone, combined with single efforts from backs Sean Long and Matt D’Arcy, saw fourth-placed ‘Tarf keep pace with their play-off rivals and condemn struggling Belvedere to their fourth consecutive defeat – they are now bottom of the Division 1A table on scoring difference.
Eddie O’Sullivan’s recent arrival at Anglesea Road as a coaching consultant has yet to coincide with improved results for ‘Belvo and the pre-match withdrawal of Daniel Riordan, who was due to start at out-half, was a significant blow.
Four minutes in, Clontarf spread the ball out to the right wing where Long used his pace to break through for a well-worked unconverted try. With Mick McGrath creating numerous problems on the opposite wing, the north Dubliners were well worth their early lead.
Shane McDonald and Willie Staunton both missed penalty attempts for Belvedere, allowing David Joyce to increase ‘Tarf’s advantage to 8-0 by the start of the second quarter. Joyce then missed his third shot at the posts but the gap was out to 15 points after Noone drove over near the half hour mark.
Crucially, Belvedere gave themselves a fighting chance with a seven-pointer just before half-time. Hooker Ed Rossiter touched down to the left of the posts following an initial maul set-up near the right corner. Staunton converted to reduce the arrears to 15-7.
Belvedere managed to hold off charges from both Noone and D’Arcy on the resumption, however Clontarf’s persistence paid off when centre D’Arcy was fed off a five-metre scrum and darted through a gap for his seventh try of the campaign, converted by Joyce.
Yet, as the second half wore on, the home side were forcing ‘Tarf on the back foot more and more. Number 10 Staunton clipped over two successful penalties for a 22-13 scoreline, with ‘Tarf danger man McGrath spending time in the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Andy Wood’s charges were under severe pressure after out-half Joyce also saw yellow during the final quarter. Nonetheless, a late fight-back from ‘Belvo did not materialise and just after McGrath’s return, a strong 74th-minute scrum was finished off by the impressive Noone for the bonus point.
The former Ireland Under-20 international’s second try, converted by Rob Keogh, put the outcome beyond any doubt, but there was enough time for Noone to add some further gloss with a runaway score just as the 80 minutes were up.
OLD BELVEDERE: Shane McDonald; Sean Coughlan, John Kennedy (capt), James Kearns, David Brandon; Willie Staunton, Aaron Sheehan; Adam Howard, Ed Rossiter, Darrell Ryan, Jack Kelly, Karl Miller, Paul Pritchard, Cathal O’Flynn, Jonathan Slattery.
Replacements: Michael Oyuga, James McWilliams-Gray, Matt Ritani, Simon Killeen, Ben Butler.
CLONTARF: Rob Keogh; Sean Long, Michael Browne, Matt D’Arcy, Mick McGrath; David Joyce, Sam Cronin; Vakh Abdaladze, Jason Harris-Wright, Royce Burke Flynn, Ben Reilly (capt), James Doyle, Karl Moran, Neil Reilly, Michael Noone.
Replacements: Jonathan Larbey, Samuel Blair, Dylan Doyle, Mark Sutton, Conor Jennings.