Dogged Terenure give Dungannon a scare

Dungannon 31 Terenure College 30, Stevenson Park

Terenure College fought back with four second half tries to almost hand a shock defeat to long-time leaders Dungannon at Eaton Park, but the Tyrone men clung on for a 31-30 success.

Tries from Paul Magee, Neil Patterson and former Ireland Under-20 back rower Thomas Anderson had Dungannon leading comfortably at 28-6 at half-time.

A penalty from the on-form Adam Larkin stretched their lead before ‘Nure fought back valiantly with tries from Anthony Ronan (2), Conor Connolly and Jonathan Barretto. Had David McAllister converted Ronan’s second effort from out wide, the Dubliners would have won.

In what was former Rainey coach John Andrews' first league match in charge, Dungannon continued to show the sort of form which has them currently second in the Ulster Senior League.

But their error-ridden second half almost let Terenure spoil what was an historic day for 'Gannon - this was their 100th victory in AIB League rugby.

Andrews' men seemed to have Terenure figured out, particularly in the second quarter when they ran in their three tries. Ulster's Adam Larkin kicked three early penalties as against one from McAllister, the former Leinster out-half, to push the hosts into a 9-3 lead.

Then centres Magee, last season's Club Player of the Year in Ulster, and Magee showed up some poor defending from the visitors for their tries, while flanker Anderson, the son of Willie Anderson who is ironically now the Rainey Old Boys coach, also muscled over for a try coming up to half-time.

Larkin converted two of those tries and added a penalty after the break for a 31-6 buffer but that kick proved to be Dungannon's final score of the afternoon.

'Nure got their lineout and maul in gear and hooker Ronan, a good signing from Suttonians, grabbed two tries for himself, with the first signalling his side's comeback. Flanker Conor Connolly also got him name on the scoresheet, as did prop Barretto, and Ronan's injury-time try almost saw 'Nure pull of a remarkable success.

As it was, they still had two bonus points to console themselves with for the trip back south, while Dungannon need to patch up their defence quickly before next Saturday's trip to UCD.

Scorers: Dungannon: Tries: Paul Magee, Neil Patterson, Thomas Anderson; Cons: Adam Larkin 2; Pens: Adam Larkin 4

Terenure College: Tries: Anthony Ronan 2, Conor Connolly, Jonathan Barretto; Cons: David McAllister 2; Pens: David McAllister 2

HT: Dungannon 28 Terenure College 6