Blackrock get their first win

Blackrock College 29 Dungannon 22

Blackrock College beat Dungannon to gain their first win of the new AIB League campaign, with Leinster ‘A’ player Fionn Carr tallying up 14 points in the 29-22 win at Stradbrook.

Leinster winger Gary Brown and former Leinster and Ireland hooker Shane Byrne both started for ‘Rock with the Stradbrook residents notching their fourth try by the 53rd-minute.

A converted try and penalty from full-back Carr had ‘Rock leading 10-3 at half-time and tries from wingers Brown and Shane Monahan (2) followed.

29-3 down, Dungannon salvaged a losing bonus point with tries from Dale Black, Michael Rainey and Paul Magee.

Having only won once in their last eleven visits to Leinster, Dungannon travelled south hoping to make amends for some previous missed opportunities – including last Saturday’s 23-13 reversal at UCD.

‘Rock, who were pipped 24-23 at Terenure College seven days ago, have kept largely the same side together over the past three weeks but were bolstered by the addition this afternoon of Leinster man Brown, whose pace has lit up many an AIB League match.

The hosts hit the front in the seventh-minute when Carr converted a penalty and they moved 10-0 clear in the 25th-minute thanks to a well-taken try and conversion from the same player.

Dungannon full-back John McGuckin, kicking in the absence of regulars Richard McCarter and Adam Larkin, landed a 33rd-minute penalty for the visitors’ only points of the opening half.

‘Gannon were caught off guard just a minute after the restart though as Brown used his pace to finish over an excellent ‘Rock move in the corner – 15-3.

‘Rock were beginning to dominate up front and with things clicking behind the scrum, winger Monahan, a member of Ireland Under-20s’ Grand Slam-winning side, cut loose.

He scored his two tries after 48 and 53 minutes to race the hosts into a 29-3, with Carr converting both efforts. ‘Gannon lost winger Dale Black to the sin bin during this time.

‘Rock also had a player yellow carded – back rower Darren Hayes walked in the 52nd-minute for a technical offence – and this seemed to spark the beginning of the Tyrone side’s comeback.

Black returned to score their first try. Lock Rainey bulldozed over in the 70th-minute and in the final minute of normal time, outside centre Magee crashed through to earn a losing bonus for his side at 29-22.

The result moves ‘Rock up to eleventh in the Division One table, while Dungannon have slipped down to twelfth ahead of next weekend’s visit of bottom side Greystones to Stevenson Park.

Scorers: Blackrock: Tries: Fionn Carr, Gary Brown, Shane Monahan 2; Cons: Fionn Carr 3; Pen: Fionn Carr

Dungannon: Tries: Dale Black, Michael Rainey, Paul Magee; Cons: John McGuckin 2; Pen; John McGuckin