Sport

Bective win keeps them on top of the table

BECTIVE'S 16-3 win over near-neighbours Wanderers keeps them top of the table

By KIERAN GARRY
Mon Mar 10 1997 - 00:00

BECTIVE'S 16-3 win over near-neighbours Wanderers keeps them top of the table. Dolphin, who head the chasing pack, kept up the pressure with a hard earned 16-12 win over NIFC at Ormeau.

At Donnybrook, the sides were level 3-3 after a scrappy first-half. But with Bective's strong pack beginning to assert themselves upfront, two more Shane Buckley penalties followed in the 52nd and 68th minutes. However, it was left to flanker Trevor Brennan, to seal matters with a close-range try a minute from time.

Dolphin will be very happy to have got out of Ormeau with two points. While North dominated the game for long periods, tries. from number eight Ken Roche, and full back Cormac MacCoitir, gave the visitors a 10-6 lead at half-time. Dolphin's Conor Mahony and North's Michael Barnes exchanged two penalties each in the second-half and though Dolphin had to withstand fierce pressure in the closing stages, North could find no way past.

Clontarf maintained their challenge with a 26-10 away win over Derry. The home side started brightly with a try by scrum half Stephen Smith. However, a second penalty from Clontarf outhalf Mark Woods, and a try from wing Gareth Ahern, gave the visitors an 11-10 lead at half-time. A third Wood's penalty edged them further ahead, and as Derry tired in the last quarter, Clontarf piled on the points. Mick Fitzsimons won the race to his chip ahead and then Woods rounded off a fine performance with a late try.

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Sunday's Well's promotion hopes received a major setback when they could only manage a 16-16 draw with DLSP at Musgrave Park. A fine try from Brian Roche, converted by Conor Burke, put the home side seven points clear after just 10 minutes. DLSP narrowed the gap with a Tommy James penalty and a close-range try by scrum half. Brian Hogan, converted by James, put them three points in front. A. Conor Burke penalty left the t9ams level at 10 points at halftime.

A James drop goal edged the visitors three points clear again, only for Burke to land two quick penalties on the hour for the Well. However the impressive James landed a huge penalty two minutes from time.

Highfield, with a solitary win to their credit, totally out played Greystones in the first-half of their game at Model Farm Road tries from Billy Quinlan, John O'Neill and Mick O'Donovan helping them to a 21-6 lead at half-time. But with ten minutes remaining and leading 24-11, Highfield fell apart. First Barry McAree dived for a try, converted by Mark Evans, and then, in the final minutes, John Murphy got over again, Evans' conversion giving the visitors a 25-24 win.

Skerries made hard work of overhauling a limited Monkstown side at Holmpatrick but eventually emerged deserving 22-15 winners. A fine try by Billy Mulcahy five minutes from half time gave Skerries an 11-9 lead.

Andrew McMaster clocked up his fifth penalty to give Monkstown a 15-11 lead going into the last quarter. A close range Jimmy Dempsey penalty cut the gap to a point and a Clive Lawless try five minutes from time put them on their way.

UCC moved away from the relegation zone with a 16-10 win at The Mardyke over Malone. The students totally out played the visitors in the first half and led by 13-0 at half-time.