UCC fail in promotion bid
Lansdowne 29 UCC 6
UCC's brave bid for a place in next season's enlarged AIB League Division One fell asunder at headquarters today as Lansdowne proved too powerful in their relegation/promotion play-off.
Andy Doyle's men chalked up their first home league win - 29-6 - since last November as strengthened by Leinster's Felipe Contepomi, Aidan McCullen, John Lyne and Niall Ronan, they crossed for four tries.
The Cork students eased their way in front however in the opening quarter as former New Zealand schools fly-half Jeremy Manning chipped over a brace of penalties from half-way on 5 and 12 minutes.
Lansdowne replied in kind as Contepomi dinked over a 22nd-minute penalty before they netted a controversial penalty try on the half-hour.
Argentinian international Contepomi converted before the Corkmen crucially lost a scrum in their own '22 in first half injury-time.
The ball was quickly switched out to Fiachra Baynes and the winger touched down in the right corner for a 15-6 break lead.
More of the same followed from Doyle's charges in the second half as the gulf in class told.
Five minutes in, McCullen crashed over under the posts for fly-half Contepomi to convert in only his second game for the Dublin 4 club.
Lansdowne left wing Ian Hopkins then made certain of the result with another try on 72 minutes.
UCC must now rally themselves for another trip to Dublin as they face St Mary’s College in next Saturday's Division Two semi-finals.