| Corinthians just about shade it | |||||
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Corinthians got off to a flying start in Saturdays game beginning with a block down by Cian Begley on Suttonians ten metre line followed a quick pass to Wayne Williams who broke through the visitors back line to score. Corinthians got off to a flying start in Saturdays game beginning with a block down by Cian Begley on Suttonians ten metre line followed a quick pass to Wayne Williams who broke through the visitors back line to score. Centre Wayne Williams converted with all this occurring after only three minutes of play. Suttonians did not take long to get on the score board either, driving with their forwards and taking on the home side pack who eventually conceded a penalty which was converted by out half Tyrone Taiepa leaving the score 7 points to 3 favouring the home side. Midway through the first half No. 8 Aurelian Casanova picked at the base of the scrum then made some ground before passing to centre Cian Begley who off loaded to fullback Darren Classens. He had still some work to do with his opposite Paddy McGuire bearing down on him but a beautiful chip by Classens rounded the fullback to collect the ball for a touchdown. Wayne Williams missed the convert leaving the score 12-3. The home side put the visitors under more pressure after Suttonians No. 6 Finbarr Dowling was sin binned and Wayne Williams converted the resulting penalty. At this stage Corinthians seemed to be in full control and with half time beckoning leading 15 to 3, a bonus point win looked a mere formality. Suttonians had other ideas and put the home side under pressure from the drop off and a series of mistakes let Suttonians back in the game allowing the visitors to be awarded a penalty which was converted by Tyrone Taiepa. Suttonians again drove down at the Corinthian pack and put the home side's goal line under siege with scrum half Tommy Campbell getting the ball out wide to centre Alan Dodd to score a fine try after the home side back line were caught napping. Tyrone Taiepa missed the convert with the score at half time 15-11. The second half was a dour affair with both packs staging it out in the middle of the pitch. The break came for the home side eventually with veteran scrum half Mick Roche throwing out a long ball to substitute out half Kenny Diffenthal who passed to Dave Murphy to get a beautiful touch down. Kenny Diffenthal missed the convert with this leaving the home side leading by 20 -11. The visitors did not give up sending their pack driving forward with wing forwards John Fagan and Finbarr Dowling to the fore. Great tackling by centre Cian Begley and rampant hooker Dave Barden kept the visitors out. Eventually the visitors broke through with their substitute scrum half Vincent Patton doing the donkey work and with big No. 5 George Flynn getting the touchdown which was in turn converted by Tyrone Taiepa leaving the score 20 to 18. Suttonians had an opportunity to win the game in injury time with their pack setting up a good ball for out half Taiepa to go for the drop goal which he kicked just to the left of the post which was a great relief to the home side supporters. In the end Corinthians were fortunate with the victory and Captain Pat Cunningham has a lot of work to do with his team in the coming week which has been decimated with injuries. They travel to Portadown next weekend with a late kick off of 17.00. Galway Corinthians RFC. Darren Classens, Richie Forbes, Wayne Williams (Ronnie Ferguson), Cian Begley, Dave Murphy, Mark O'Boyle (Kenny Diffenthal), Michael Roche, Dave Lillis, Dave Barden, Dave Small (Gary Ward), Pat Cunningham (Captain), Seamus Murphy, Aurelian Casanova, Sean Geraghty, Barry McCann (Tadhg Linnane) U20's Cork Constitution 15 - 10 Corinthians Corinthians U20's travelled down to Cork on Saturday to play Cork Con in a critical AIL Div 1 game. Both sides were locked in 3rd place in the league table with Cork Con having played one game less so it was therefore potentially an 8 point game for both sides. As the league draws to a conclusion and the top 5 playoff positions are decided the winner is more or less guaranteed a place in the play-offs. Corinthians travelled without the injured second rows Rory Shanahan and David Ott and with replacement Colin Raftery also unavailable it left them without some critical power. However they were buoyed by recent performances and were confident in their own ability to compete in all areas of the park. The match was played in ideal conditions in Temple Hill with the breeze favouring Corinthians in the first half. Corinthians started in a blaze of aggressive controlled rugby and put Cork Con under enormous pressure for the first 20 minutes whilst dominating possession and territory. They were very unlucky not to score a try with Finn Gormley and later Shane Conneely being stopped just short. However the pressure eventually began to tell and after 15 minutes out-half Brendan Carpenter got over for a well worked try after hard graft by forwards Mitchell Mc Grath and Eoin Costello and a good off load in the tackle by Eric Flynn. Further pressure immediately after offered the opportunity of a penalty but unfortunately the out-half was again off target. Open side flanker Liam Carpenter who had started the game carrying an injury then had to go off to be replaced by Johnny Kearney. Unfortunately while Corinthians were dominant in the loose and showed the greater determination and aggression, they were unable to control the set-pieces and this ultimately was to prove their downfall. Against the run of play Cork Con scored when the ball was turned over in contact and centre O'Leary broke through a tackle on the half way line to run in unopposed for an impressive try. Again the conversion was missed; leaving the score tied 5-5 at half-time. The second half started with Cork Con using the now stronger breeze to their advantage and Corinthians were pinned in their own half for long periods. Good defence from back row Conneely, Casey and Kearney ensured that the line was well protected but the pressure eventually paid off when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts for an off-side infringement. This then allowed Corinthians get out of their own half and an improved line-out with good ball from Higgins and Costello allowed replacement scrum-half Peter Walsh release his outside backs. Then with 60 minutes on the clock Cork Con again turned over the ball and booted the ball down field. Winger Ronan Browne gathered the ball and kicked back to full back de Souza who counter attacked from his 22, evaded tackles, then kicked ahead and when Corinthians failed to put the ball into touch, he hacked downfield to score a fortuitous try which he then converted from the touchline. Corinthians responded heroically and with James Robinson leading by example they went through more than 10 phases before Peter Walsh darted over for a well deserved try. Unfortunately the conversion was missed leaving the score at 15 - 10. Corinthians continued to pile on the pressure and winger Enda Cooney was stopped just short after Dave Clarke, now at out half, created space for him out wide. Despite sustained possession and pressure, Corinthians couldn't breach the home sides well marshalled defence and the score remained at 15 - 10 at the finish with a bonus point scant reward for this brave Corinthians side which with only two games left to play, have a battle on their hands to retain their play-off position. Next week-end they face an impressive UCC side who are strongly challenging for top spot in the league. There is no doubt but that Corinthians have the talent and the will to win but it will require all their fire power to perform at their best if they are to get the result needed to qualify. Home support was an important factor in Cork Cons home win last week-end and all rugby supporters are encouraged to come along to Corinthians Park next Saturday at 2.30pm to support the home side and enjoy top class rugby. Corinthians: Russell, O'Connell, Gormley, Clarke, Cooney, Carpenter, Flynn, Conneely, Carpenter, Casey, Costello, Higgins, Robinson, Mc Grath, Tierney. Subs: Egan, Nee, Kearney, Flynn, Walsh, Nairn, Browne.  |
