Crescent may have to re-evaluate their ambitions after defeat

PROMOTION hopefuls Old Crescent may have to re-evaluate their ambitions after losing to Sundays’ Well by 33-14 at Musgrave park on Saturday.

The Well ran in two tries courtesy of Cronan Healy and Sean Farrell, and Eddie Hogan-O'Connell put on a magnificent display of kicking with seven converted penalties and one conversion to give the Cork side their second consecutive victory after four consecutive losses. The win propels the Well out of the relegation zone and leaves Crescent in third place in the division, three points behind Dolphin and one behind Bective Rangers. Dolphin scored a valuable derby win over UCC at the Mardyke, with Shane Madigan being the inspiration behind the victory.

Madigan not only gave an object lesson in line-out jumping, but he scored the the winning try in their 18-12 win over the students.

The club's excellent run, with five wins in six outings, has pushed them back to the top of the table. Bective beat Ballynahinch 21-16 in a close game at Ballymacarn Park and it was man-of-the-match Brendan Brown who was the difference between the two sides. The sides were level at 6-6 at half-time, but Brown scored two tries and showed brilliant pace and determination for both in the second period. Fergal Campion added three penalties and a conversion.

A determined Midleton had an emphatic 27-8 win away to Portadown and they are now up to fourth in the table. They led 13-8 at half-time, but it was Kieran Wall's excellent second try in the second half which saw the Portadown challenge crumble. Malone stunned Old Belvedere with a 34-0 win and the Dublin club have now slipped to fourth last in the league table after an horrific series of losses.

This time around their chief tormentor was Andy Mackey, who scored three tries, while Jacques Benade and Richie Barkley added one each. Gary Fry added three conversions and a penalty. Both Greystones and Dublin University look like they may be heading back to Division Three after respective losses to Barnhall and DLSP saw them rooted to the foot of the table. Barnhall beat Greystones 38-15, scoring six tries left winger Brendan Burke grabbing a brace while Trinity were probably unlucky to lose to DLSP on a scorline of 16-13.

The students defended doggedly throughout and they actually led by seven points at the break, but three

Simon Broughton penalties broke their hearts in the second half.

They now languish at the foot of the table with three points from five games, while Greystones are only a point ahead with six games played.