An excellent display by outhalf David Smith helped Old Wesley to a well deserved victory over Corinthians at Donnybrook.The home side were on top from the off. After seven minutes Wesley went in for an easy try, with the visitors back line at sixes and sevens the home side fullback Brian Doherty touched down in the corner. Smith converted same.
Corinthians got their act together for the next half hour with Pat Cunningham winning good ball, well assisted by flanker Shane Connelly. Michael Roche attempted to get the ball out wide but the visitors’ back line kept spilling the ball. Eventually Wesley got a penalty after the visitors’ fullback Darin Classens tried to run out from behind his own line but held on to the ball in the tackle. Smith converted same to leave the home side leading 10 points to nil at the break.
After the break the home side were penalized several times by referee Peter Roche but Corinthians were unable to gain any ground with very poor line kicking. Twenty minutes into the second half Corinthians got in for a fine try after good lineout play by flanker Liam Carpenter who gave quick ball to scrum half Roche. Roche got the ball out wide to second centre Eoin Griffin who finished it of,but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Wesley put the game out of sight after replacement prop John Rowe sneaked in for an opportune try which was converted by Smith. The home side got thir bonus point in the final minutes after good work by man of the match David Smith slipping the ball to sub Alan Rowe. It is back to the drawing board for the Cloonacauneen outfit who have a three week break before they take on Dublin University.
Corinthian Team: D Classens, S Mullaly, E Griffin. W Williams, C Begley, F Gormally, B Morley, M Roche,
H Griffin, L Carpenter, A Cassanova, S Connelly, G Ward, P Cunningham(capt ), J Robinson, D Bardon, D Small, D Buckley.
