Cork Con fall to fifth place

Clontarf 10 Cork Constitution 9, Castle Avenue

Cork Constitution are almost out of the running for the title after falling to fifth place in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A table.

They could not make full use of a strong wind in the second half as Clontarf, the league leaders, handed them a narrow defeat.

It was honours even at the break as former Cork Con player Richie Lane swapped penalties with the Leesiders’ current captain Gerry Hurley.

Hurley was able to add two more penalties during the second period as Cork Con enjoyed the better of possession but could not make it count on the scoreboard.

The home forwards, with another ex-Cork Con player Frank Cogan in excellent form, forced a penalty try which Lane crucially converted to steer them to their 10th win of the campaign.

Scorers: Clontarf: Try: Penalty try; Con: Richie Lane; Pen: Richie Lane

Cork Constitution: Pens: Gerry Hurley 3

HT: Clontarf 3 Cork Constitution 3