St Mary’s College 31
UCC 25
John Crothers
St Mary’s College continued their perfect start to the season as a Daniel Sancery hat-trick helped them see off a determined UCC side to make it three wins from three for the Templeville Road outfit.
The left winger crossed for a brace in the first half which, along with hooker Jamie Harding’s try off a powerful home maul, saw Mary’s lead 19-11 at the break.
When Conor Hayes went over for the fourth try early in the second half it looked like game over but UCC refused to buckle and pulled the deficit back to just a single point with 15 minutes left on the clock. Up stepped Sancery with his third of the day to calm the nerves on the Templeville terraces and wrap up all 5 match points to secure a maximum 15-point haul for the season so far.
Elsewhere, Terenure were held scoreless as Cork Con won our 20-0 at Lakelands Park.
Jonny Holland’s men had the backing of a strong wind during the first half, and James Taylor landed two initial penalties and converted tries from Billy Scannell (23 minutes) and Daniel Hurley (38) to establish a 20-0 half-time lead.
Cork Con’s robust defence continued to frustrate Terenure College, with the back row of Jack Kelleher, Ronan O’Sullivan and captain David Hyland particularly impressive in terms of winning turnovers and putting pressure on at lineout time.
Con did lose out-half Taylor to a yellow card, while Terenure replacement prop Ben Howard was also sin-binned as the reigning champions battled furiously to try and close the gap.
Con’s Te Atawhai Mason missed a penalty but it was not needed in the end, as ‘Nure were held scoreless in a home Division 1A fixture for the first time since their 9-0 semi-final defeat to Clontarf in April 2015.
This was a repeat of last season’s semi-final clash which the south Dubliners won 30-12. They were looking to right the wrongs of last week’s 26-16 loss at Clontarf, and Cork Con were also aiming to bounce back from a frustrating late reversal at the hands of Ballynahinch.
St Mary’s winger Daniel Sancery about to touch down for a try.
Picture: Gemma Dolan/ Loreto College, Rathfarnham
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