Corinthians’ perfect start to this season’s Ulster Bank League continued with another bonus-point win when they overcame Queen’s University by 28-27 in Saturday’s division 2A clash.
Corinthians will now face Cashel on Saturday in Cloonacauneen and the home side is expecting a tough challenge. Although the Tipperary outfit is new to the division, it has also grabbed two scalps in Midleton and Old Crescent to date.
Last Saturday in Belfast Corinthians opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Aaron Conneely grabbed his second try this season after tight head Finlay Bealham was quickest to claim loose ball, and fullback Mick O’Flynn added the extras in front of posts.
Queens reacted with a try from No 8 Eric Bowden, while outhalf Roger McMaster converted and added a penalty to take a 10-7 lead.
A fine try by Corinthians captain Fionn Gormley after good work by his pack and an excellent break by outhalf Conor Murphy to give the visitors a 14 - 10 lead at the break, but McMaster narrowed the deficit to a single point soon after the restart.
The second half remained nip and tuck. Centre James Buckley took advantage of sloppy play by the students to touch down out wide but Queens replied when centre Roger Stewart cut through the visitors’ defence to score.
Corinthians again stretched the lead when hooker Kevin O’Byrne burst from a ruck to touch down in the corner, but the home side upped the ante and took control. Two tries from centre Stephen Hooks and scrumhalf Colin Spence gave the home side the lead again, but crucially, with time running out, both conversions were missed.
It enabled Corinthians one final attack and after flanker Sean Gerrity made ground, Buckley found Murphy in support who crossed for the winning try.
Corinthians: M O’Flynn, A O’Connell, J Buckley, F Gormley( capt ), B Dixon, C Murphy, S Bruce, F Bealham, K O’Byrne, T Toolan, M Byrne, U Dillane, A Conneely, S Gerrity, A Casanova. Subs, S Burke, M Lee, E Flynn, B Murphy, W Williams.
