AIL – Queen’s University 19 Old Wesley 14
Following three bonus point wins in a row Old Wesley travelled to Queens University with hope and optimism. But it was the Belfast side that took their opportunities and with Old Wesley guilty of handling errors and a misfunctioning line out.
Old Wesley started the sharper and after just nine minutes were on the scoreboard with a Tommy O’Callaghan try after a midfield break by Alex Molloy and some slick passing. But this sparked the opposition into action and eight minutes later they scored a try after a tap penalty near the Wesley goal line. Queens continued to flex their muscles going on to score two further tries to take a half time lead of 19-7.
Old Wesley gained momentum in the second half and although they held the advantage in the territory and possession stats, they could not convert this into points on the board. On the 70-minute mark a Queens maul infringement on their goal line led to a penalty try for Wesley putting them within one score of the opposition. But the Ulstermen held their nerve and with no further scores Old Wesley had to settle for a loser’s bonus point. In fact, the home side could have claimed a winner’s bonus point as they attacked the Wesley line with the clock in the red. But, somewhat bizarrely, they turned down the chance and instead kicked to touch for full time.
The sides meet again in the return leg on 11th January at Donnybrook, where Old Wesley will be eager to reverse the result.
Scorers: Tries: Tommy O’Callaghan, Penalty try; Cons: Ian Cassidy, Pen try con
Half Time: Queen’s University 19 Old Wesley 7
Team: Tom Larke; Tommy O’Callaghan, Alex Molloy, Eoin Deegan, Paidi Farrell; Ian Cassidy, Andrew Doyle; Harry Noonan, Stephen Smyth, Cronan Gleeson, David Motyer, Mahon Ronan, Reuben Pim, Josh Pim (capt), Will Fay. Replacements: Ciaran O’Shea, Sam Kenny, Charlie Meagher, Eoin Murphy, Charlie O’Regan, Cathal Kelly.