ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 7 LANSDOWNE 33, Templeville Road (played on Friday)
Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Try: Tim Maupin; Con: Conor Dean
Lansdowne: Tries: Adam Leavy 2, Charlie Rock, Alan Bennie, Jack O’Sullivan; Cons: Scott Deasy 4
HT: St. Mary’s College 7 Lansdowne 7
Four second half tries propelled Lansdowne to a dominant 33-7 bonus point win over St. Mary’s College as they moved to the top of Division 1A on Friday night.
Mike Ruddock’s men took advantage of leaders Terenure’s defeat at Clontarf to hit the summit, going ahead through Charlie Rock’s 55th-minute try and never looking back.
Clashes between these sides normally have some interesting sub-plots, and this latest encounter was no different. Lansdowne are coached by ex-Wales senior and Ireland Under-20 head coach Ruddock, and in the opposite corner, his son Ciaran led Mary’s into battle.
The late withdrawal of full-back Sean Kearns was a setback for the hosts, but just three minutes in, they broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion as USA international Tim Maupin gathered a terrific cross-field kick from Conor Dean, on the right wing, and used his pace to score a converted try.
Dean, who started for Leinster ‘A’ last week in the British & Irish Cup, failed with a 26th minute penalty attempt. His opposite number, Lansdowne talisman Scott Deasy, also missed a tricky place-kick before the visitors finally opened their account just past the half hour mark.
Some brilliant build-up play – Rock sent Charlie Butterworth up the left touchline and captain Ian Prendiville showed impressive pace to keep the move going and link with the eventual scorer – was rewarded when Ireland Sevens international Adam Leavy darted in behind the posts for the levelling score. The match was now finely balanced and the next score would be crucial.
Both sides created decent phases in opposition territory and timely steals by Mary’s pair Adam Coyleand Daragh McDonnell frustrated Lansdowne. Nonetheless, it was the visitors’ lively scrum half, Rock, who succeeded in squeezing over to the right of the posts, a few minutes later.
The headquarters club were very much on the front foot head into the final quarter. Replacement scrum half Alan Bennie supplied the finishing touches to a pushover try, converted by Deasy, and fellow replacement Jack O’Sullivan registered the bonus point by the posts after Lansdowne had worked the ball through a central channel.
Mary’s pressed hard for a consolation score in the closing minutes, but it was Dan Leavy’s younger brother Adam who had the final say. The pacy left winger completed his brace thanks to a quick-witted counter attack and an assist from Daniel McEvoy. Deasy tagged on his fourth successful conversion.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: Emmet Ferron; Tim Maupin, Darren Moroney, Marcus O’Driscoll, Craig Kennedy; Conor Dean, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Richard Halpin, Adam Coyle, Ciaran Ruddock (capt), David O’Connor, Daragh McDonnell, Nick McCarthy, Jack Dilger.
Replacements: Stephen O’Brien, Brendan Cullinane, Mark Fallon, Dave Fanagan, Myles Carey.
LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills; Daniel McEvoy, Harry Brennan, Fergal Cleary, Adam Leavy; Scott Deasy, Charlie Rock; Ntinga Mpiko. Tyrone Moran, Ian Prendiville (capt), Josh O’Rourke, Oisin Dowling, Jack Dwan, Charlie Butterworth, Willie Earle.
Replacements: Jack Dinneen, Greg McGrath, Jack O’Sullivan, Alan Bennie, Tom Roche.