LEINSTER LEAGUE DIVISION 1A S P O RT 51

DUNDALK RFC VS BOYNE RFC - MILL ROAD - 09.03.19

Leinster League Division 1A

tosavetheirleagueplace..fornow Mill Road men score derby victory

DUNDALK RFC 29 BOYNE RFC 7

Dundalk RFC preserved their Leinster League Division 1A status on a dramatic final day of the campaign. Their 29-7 victory over already-relegated, local rivals Boyne RFC at Mill Road, along with Bective Rangers’ d e feat away to Wicklow, ensured Mike Walls’ side of a sixth place finish, meaning they will play in the top provincial junior rank next season, provided either Enniscorthy are promoted or just one team comes down from the All-Ireland League. Knowing they needed a win to stand any chance of staying in the division, Dundalk put in one of their most convincing displays of the year, scoring five tries, including two in the opening half. Having broken the deadlock inside the first quarter, through a Robert Williams try which wasn’t converted, Dundalk took a 12-0 lead when scrum-half Darragh Conroy touched the ball off the base of the post having picked and gone from the back of a ruck. He converted his own score. Boyne registered their sole points of the contest in ABOVE - Dundalk RFC’s Robert Farrell breaks the lead in to half-time, to forward with two Boyne RFC defenders make it 12-7 at the break, and standing in his way while the early part of the second period was scoreless, LEFT - Dundalk RFC players huddle before Du n d a l k ’s pack began to flex kick-off at Mill Road on Saturday afternoon their muscles, with replacement Conor Williams PICTURES: AIDAN DULLAGHAN having an outstanding game at loose head. Greg Whately enhanced the quarter-final tie away to They were held-up on the bonus point win with major Wicklow to look forward to try-line as they committed number five, crashing over on Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day. numbers to attack deep after a 10m run along the Kick-off at Ashtown Lane is inside Boyne territory, but touc h l i n e. 3pm.

Dundalk5 the Drogheda side’s resolve For Boyne, it was a Dundalk RFC: was only momentary as disappointing way Jonathan Gray,

gh rra Dhaving twice beaten the All Ireland before embarking on Dundalk went over in to conclude what S eá n Blacks during his Irish reign. a world tour, where he hopes practically their next attack, has been a A r rows m i th ,

roy an Co “I’d say he’s gone a little to find work and rugby, eventually being awarded a poor R ob e rt under the radar. We hear a lot armed with playing expertise penalty try, to make it 19-7. campaign, in Farrell; Ben

touched “’stally about Warren Gatland back in the styles of both Their other prop, Robert which they M o rt i m e r,

the home, just for his time with hemispheres, which, he Farrell, made it 24-7 with we re Enda

balloffthe oftriesvs the Lions and the Welsh’s concedes, are palpably Du n d a l k ’s fourth try before re l egate d Mu r p hy; suc c e s s . d i f fe re nt . with 11 Ja m e s

having post too “ much I hadn’ before t heard I Joe came ’s name over could His have brother been , Weber a part of feels the , LEAGUE TABLE 14 defeats matches from . B oy n e L McConnon au re n c e , base of the

pickedand here here , , but he’s now everywhere that I’m ; over he’s last All Blacks November ’ travelling , but posse he LEINSTER LEAGUE DIV. 1A P WD LP ts time Safety being - , for at the least - Gonnelly Steen, ; Darragh Tiernan great at what he does and very reckons Brad has a major Wicklow Enniscorthy RFC RFC 14 14 130 90 542 161 will provide Dundalk with Conroy, Mike Walls; p ro fe s s io n a l .” chance of making the plane to Gorey RFC 148 1 5 39 something to reflect fondly Jonathan Williams, Sam gone from the Japa n . Ashbourne RFC 14 61 736 upon, as Bective now stare at Weber; Patrick Reilly, Ronan THE NEXT STEP If that’s the case, Sam will Kilkenny RFC 14 5 1 828 the prospect of a relegation Greene, Robert Williams back of a ruck The utility back’s term in be there to support. Dundalk RFC 14 5 1 828 play-off against a Division 1B Reps: Conor Williams, Dundalk is to come to a close Some year that would be, Bective Rangers RFC 14 5 0 928 o p p o n e nt . Ciarán Lennon, Alistar at the end of April, when he from Napier to Japan, via Boyne RFC 14 3 0 11 13 Instead, the Mill Road men McCormack, Greg Whately, and his girlfriend will travel Du n d a l k …. have a Towns Cup Kieran Lenihan