Cork Con end their losing streak

Cork Constitution 31 Lansdowne 13: The relief in Cork Constitution ranks was palpable as they picked up a valuable first home win of the Ulster Bank League season to lift themselves clear of the bottom at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Con had to fight harder than the scoreline suggests. They led 15-6 at half time, by 21-13 midway through the second half and were unable to make the game safe until Tomas Quinlan kicked a 76th-minute penalty and converted a breakaway try deep into injury time from James Murphy. But, despite the struggle, this was a vastly better performance than their recent showing again Young Munster and Garryowen.

“Last week, against Garryowen, we played some really good rugby but didn’t play smart. It was really about trying to get back to getting that right. “At a key point in the game we got our noses in front,” said head coach Brian Hickey.