Energia League Division 2B
Corinthians 54 Belfast Harlequins 12
GALWAY CORINTHIANS RFC maintained their challenge at the top of Division 2B of the Energia League with an eight try demolition of Belfast Harlequins in Corinthian Park on Saturday afternoon.
In a league that saw leaders Instonians brought to the pin of their collar by Wanderers winning by just a single point, this win proved to be important as it gives Corinthians an advantage in scoring difference and while the gap between the top two is still four points, it keeps Corinthians very much in contention.
Corinthians were dominant in front of their own support, scoring twenty one points without reply in the opening half. Matthew Devine opened the scoring with a try, collecting the pass at the back of the scrum from Mark Boyle. Sean Naughton nailing the conversion.
Devine would turn provider for number two as Corinthians took control in the forward battle. A tap penalty saw Corinthians go close on four occasions, but they would not stop Boyle from driving over for the second of the afternoon for the home side. Naughton’s conversion was from a much easier angle this time and he made no mistake with the kick.
The third Corinthians try was a testament to the work that has been done with the forwards in recent weeks by Pat Cunningham. A line out was collected by Ruan Janse van Rensburg who had an excellent afternoon and with Harlequins going backward. Max Holmes held possession and went over for the try which again was converted by Naughton.
Corinthians were now in total control and their aggressive style of not giving up showed with the fourth in the early stages of the second half. A short line out was sent to Mark Boyle who made the line break. His pass was kicked on, but he showed composure to get back on his feet and win the turnover with Devine feeding Grellan Murray for the try. What was special about this try was that Corinthians never gave up and hunted for the ball when other teams might have stepped back.
With the bonus point now secure, Corinthians went in search of more scores and Sean Naughton produced a moment of brilliance following a scrum. Taking possession inside his own half, the out half ran towards the line and passed to Matthew Devine who returned the pass for Naughton to score.
A penalty try would follow soon afterwards as Corinthians went towards the line, the referee deeming that the try scoring movement was denied illegally and following a Harlequins try that went somewhat against the run of play, Corinthians were again over the whitewash. Patrick Fahy this time the architect with a great run and setup that saw Joey Tierney involved in a big way. His pass found John Devine who kicked crossfield for Finn McNulty to get in a score.
There would be one further try for both sides with Corinthians’ final try coming from Grellan Murray with his second of the day. This one came again from a Tierney pass as the clock ticked into the red and completed an excellent eighty minutes for the home side at Corinthian Park.
Corinthians: F MacCearra, T Waters, H Rogers, J Devine, F McNulty, S Naughton, M Devine. P Fahy, M Holmes, F Barrett, R Glynn, R Janse van Rensburg, G Murray, M Flynn, M Boyle (Capt ).
Replacements: D Fitzpatrick, R Dufficy, M Garcia, J Tierney, D Keane.
