Dolphin coast to bonus point win as Crescent have off-day

Dolphin 35 Old Crescent 5

The Limerick side were never in the game and Dolphin could have won by more but at times struggled for fluidity in their game in a stop-start game.

Some bite went out of the game midway through the first half as Old Crescent had a second prop injured, leading to uncontested scrums for the rest of the game.

With Dolphin looking to clinch promotion back into the top flight, coach David O’Mahony was pleased that his side obtained a vital win.

“It was mission accomplished for us today with the bonus point also being very important to us.

“Unfortunately, Crescent were very poor on the day and we found it hard to get into our rhythm.

“The fact that there were uncontested scrums really ruined the game ... but I am still delighted we were able to regroup and claim the bonus point.

“We didn’t perform at all for the early stages of the second half, and Crescent’s try was probably the best thing that could have happened to us.

“It woke us up a little bit and we were able to apply some good pressure and score some more tries.

“We now have a break for two weekends, which is a bit of a disaster for us. We only have three games left, but it will take nearly another two months to complete them.

“In fairness, it is the same for all the other sides and we all just have to make do.”

Dolphin’s pack possessed too much power for Crescent and they were well organised - keeping the visitors on the back foot.

They managed to drive over the line twice in the first half with Fergus Gately and Kieran Murray touching down.

Barry Keeshan also added two penalties and a conversion to put the hosts 18-0 up at the break.

Both sides looked extremely flat at the start of the second half, and it took a rare attack by Old Crescent to bring life back to the game.

Paddy Flynn finished off an excellent move in which he was involved on a number of occasions.

Unfortunately for Flynn and his colleagues, this score just stirred Dolphin back into action and they were camped inside the Crescent half for the remainder of the match.

Then tries by Ritchie McKinnie, James Coughlan and George Finn wrapped up the points for them.

Elsewhere in the Division, leaders Terenure had a 17-0 win over Thomond to maintain their five point lead, while Young Munster’s recent run of form continued with a close 14-12 win over Midleton.

Highfield scored a much-needed 19-5 win over Ballynahinch, while UCC were beaten 8-0 by fellow promotion chasers, Bective Rangers.

In Division 3, Clonakilty and Suttonians remain locked in pole position - after convincing wins respectively over Instonians and Derry.

Clonakilty beat their northern visitors 39-10, while Suttonians managed to beat Derry 41-12. Both now have 46 points, three ahead of Wanderers, who beat Banbridge 35-8.

Strugglers Skerries went down 10-24 to Bruff, at home, and now appear locked in a relegation dogfight with Connemara and Portadown - who lost the late game on Saturday, 20-8 against Corinthians.