Survival boost as Well end losing run
The Well were looking to halt a slide that had seen them winless since last December, and in finally breaking their hoodoo they also collected their first try-scoring bonus point since the 2005/06 season.
Tries from forwards Eamonn Murphy and Jason Rose lit up an otherwise dour first half to help the home side to a 13-0 interval lead.
But three Gary Jones penalties hauled Waterpark back into contention, and they found themselves just two points behind after Colm Phelan raced away for an intercept try off Eamonn Buckley’s pass on 61 minutes.
However, Buckley atoned for that error with a magnificent long pass out of the tackle to set up a try for David Twohig in the left corner, and a near-identical blindside move made the game safe as flanker Tumaile Tasola dotted down with seven minutes left.
However, hooker Rory Kavanagh burrowed over in injury time for Waterpark, and Jones added the extras with the last action of the game.
In Saturday’s action, Cork Constitution and Shannon remain on course to enjoy home advantage in the AIL Division One play-offs after wins over Leinster opposition in the fourth-last round of games.
Shannon’s 27-12 bonus point victory over Terenure at Coonagh was highlighted by a remarkable display from AIB League veteran, Andrew Thompson. The competition’s top points scorer took his league tally for the season to 99 points after crossing for two tries and landing two conversions and a penalty in a resounding win for Mick Galwey’s side. Padraig O’Brien and David Quinlan also had tries for the winners in a facile victory.
Munster contracted players, Anthony Horgan and Denis Hurley, got on the score-sheet for Cork Con in a drab encounter against St Mary’s at Temple Hill. Hurley scored a beauty just on half time to hand Con a 7-3 lead. After Horgan crossed the whitewash, the Munster full back added a second for the league-leaders. Robin Copeland breached the Con defence for a consolation.
It was a bad day all round for Dublin sides against Munster opposition as Garryowen maintained their push for a play-off spot with a 11-5 win over relegation-threatened Lansdowne.
David Kearney, brother of Ireland winger, Rob, showed fleetness of foot to go over for a try on half time to make it 6-5 after Conor Kilroy landed two penalties for the visitors. Ireland A international, Keith Earls, secured victory for the champions with a try.
UCD bounced back from their defeat to Dolphin in the previous round, scoring a 38-29 victory over Blackrock College at Stradbrook. Rock were facing one of their heaviest defeats in the league when they found themselves 33-3 in arrears on 70 minutes, but four late tries from the home side put some level of respectability on the score.
Galwegians took a giant step away from the relegation zone following a 26-24 win away to Old Belvedere, Liam Bibo in top form with the boot landing 16 points. Ian Keatley put Greystones under even more pressure at the wrong end of the table, scoring 17 points in a 27-18 home win for Clontarf.
UL Bohs hopes of reaching the top four for the second successive year suffered a blow when they went down 15-11 to Ballymena.
In Division Two, Highfield suffered a heavy home defeat at the hands of provincial rivals, Young Munster.
The Cookies’ 22-9 win at Woodleigh Park sees them level on points with UCC, but points put the Limerick men into fourth position.
The Cork students enjoyed a resounding 29-8 away to Trinity but the match of the day was the all-Ulster clash between promotion-chasing Belfast Harlequins and Malone, which the former won on a 19-13 score-line.
Buccaneers, however, remain in pole position for promotion following a 12-5 win over Wanderers in Dubarry Park. There were also wins for Old Crescent, Thomond, Bective Rangers and Ballynahinch.
In Division Three, Midleton continued their surge up the table with an away win in Derry, Banbridge are still on course for a top four finish while Bruff, Instonians and Ards also recorded wins.
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