Corinthians travel to Dalkey in search of their third win on the trot when they face newcomers Seapoint in Saturday's Ulster Bank League division 2A clash.
Following a win away to Midleton in the opening round, Corinthians added a convincing 32-7 win over City of Derry in Corinthian Park last Saturday. As a result they travel with high hopes of continuing that form when they take on last season's promotion side Seapoint.
The County Dublin outfit has experienced a fast rise through the ranks from junior level. After a single season playing All Ireland League rugby, they earned their promotion after finishing runners-up in division three. They have already taken Bective Rangers' scalp, so Corinthians will not take anything for granted when they meet at Kilbogger Park.
However there is confidence in the Cloonacauneen side and, having achieved a bonus point win on Saturday, they have moved into third place in the division.
At home last weekend Corinthians made good use of the first-half wind advantage to take an unbeatable 29- 0 half time lead. Outhalf Conor Murphy opened with a fifth minute penalty after a break from Aaron Conneely set up territorial control, and within minutes scrumhalf Mickey Murphy made a break from the scrum, feeding his backline before winger Darin Claasen scored on the right, with Murphy adding the extras.
The home side continued to pressure Derry with both backs and forwards maintaining possession, and it was not long before Murphy, on the break, found the supporting Bryan Dixon with a neat inside pass for the young centre to score beside the posts. Murphy’s conversion made the score 15-0.
Murphy was again instrumental in the third try when he caught the defense napping. Opting to kick a penalty crossfield to the right corner, Claasen gathered the ball with a diving catch and his momentum carried him over the line for an excellent score which Murphy converted. Before the break Bryan Dixon grabbed his second try to stretch the lead to 29 - 0 at the break.
Although the visitors struck for a converted try after 15 minutes of the restart, neither side gained dominance in the second half before Corinthians added an injury-time penalty to seal a comfortable victory.
Corinthians: R Kennedy, D Claasen, F Gormley (c ), B Dixon, W Williams, C Murphy, M Murphy, F Bealham, J Merrigan, D Small, G Warde, P Cunningham, A Conneely, S Gerrity, A Casanova. Replacements: K O’Byrne, T Toolan, L Berini, K Marmion, E Flynn.
Connacht domestic results: Junior League Div 1A: Ballina 48 Galwegians 3; Westport 3 Tuam 18; OLBC 3 Monivea 13; Junior League Div 1C: Carrick 3 Connemara 6.
