Instonians keep pressure on - Div 3 round-up

Leaders Banbridge maintained their promotion push with a fifth consecutive win this season, this time gunning down Skerries 22-10 at Rifle Park.

But the afternoon’s stand out performance came from Instonians, as they fended out a late charge from promotion rivals Wanderers to win 20-17 at Shaw’s Bridge and take second spot.

On a wet and windy afternoon when many questioned the referee’s decision to play the game, Instonians took an early advantage through a sixth minute drop goal from out-half Sean Flynn.

They mustered a 10-0 lead soon after with full-back Aaron McKinney going over in the right corner and Darren Dunlop stroking home the difficult conversion with aplomb.

A defensive error by the Wanderers pack handed Flynn another drop goal in the 24th minute for a 13-point lead.

The visitors hit back with their first converted try on 31 minutes but Flynn, impressive all afternoon, jinked over in the corner to bring his tally to 11 points, with Dunlop converting again from a seemingly impossible angle.

Instonian’s 20-7 advantage at the break was evidently there for the taking.

A penalty on 50 minutes gave Wanderers hope, but a series of impressive defensive hits knocked them back until the second minute of injury time when they crossed for their second try, converted by Dan O’Sullivan.

Having lost twice to the Dublin club last season, Instonian deservedly took the vital four points.

Elsewhere, Ards continued to up their game as they took the scalp of Connemara 28-21 in Galway, and Highfield impressed in defeating Greystones by four points at Dr Hickey Park.

There were also away wins for Old Wesley and Queen’s.