St Mary's secure top flight hope

St Mary's College 14 UCD 6

HT: St Mary’s 5 UCD 3

St Mary’s kept alive their hopes of staying in the AIB League’s top flight as out-half Barry Lynn booted three second half penalties to secure a 14-6 win for them over UCD at Templeville Road.

Mary’s, the only Leinster-based side to remain in Division One since the incarnation of the competition, are just one point ahead of second-from-bottom Dolphin following this afternoon’s victory and must defeat bottom side Galwegians in two weeks’ time at Crowley Park to stay up.

Tighthead prop David Clare was shunted over after 27 minutes for the only try of the game, after good work from back rows Jonathan Ellis and Willie Duggan, but Lynn went wide with the difficult conversion.

UCD, with five defeats in their previous seven games, looked clueless for much of the first half and offered little up front where Mary’s had the advantage. Left wing Alan Henry cut over a 28-metre penalty to put two between the sides at the break, 5-3.

The second half was tit-for-tat with Brent Pope’s side marginally the better, and out of the four kickable penalties coughed up by the College defence, Lynn kicked three.

His second half hat trick on 47, 57 and 76 minutes confirmed a precious third win of the season for Mary’s, and condemned UCD, who replied with a second Henry effort on the hour, to their seventh defeat of the season.

Scorers: Mary’s: Try: David Clare; Pens: Barry Lynn 3

UCD: Pens: Alan Henry 2