Old Belvedere 30-14 UCD


UCDs opening match did not go according to plan as Old Belvedere clinically handed their Dublin 4 rivals quite a beating on the opening day of the AIB League.

UCD were on a hat-trick of league wins over Belvedere but the hosts soon put that thought to bed with a fantastic first half display.

Wind-assisted, Belvedere's clever kicking got them into try-scoring situations and Leinster prospect Eoin O'Malley unlocked the UCD defence as early as the third-minute when he worked Mongan into space and the winger had the gas to race over from 35 metres out.
O'Malley was also involved in the second try which was dotted down by Treacy in the other corner, nine minutes in. UCD struggled for possession and with Conal Keane and Ruairi Cushion keeping Belvedere in the students' half; it was only a matter of time before more tries followed.

UCD slipped off too many tackles and when Devitt was allowed to cross out wide for the hosts' third try. Worse followed when they stormed over for the bonus point-clinching score just before half-time which led to a disappointing 22-0 interval lead.

However UCD came out fighting in the second half and rather than kick possession downfield and rely on their lineout, UCD opted to run the ball more often than not during a well-contested second period.

Credit must go to the students, they made a game of it as Hastings and Croke grabbed tries either side of the hour mark.

But by the time Croke had got his score, Belvedere had put the seal on the home win thanks to another Treacy try and a penalty from Keane to hand the opening game a 30-14 win to Belvedere.


Scorers:
Old Belvedere: Tries: Dave Mongan, Phil Treacy 2, Eddie Devitt, Leo Auva'a; Con: Conal Keane; Pen: Conal Keane
UCD: Tries: Michael Hastings, Kevin Croke; Cons: Killian Lett 2


Filed by UCD Sport - 6th October ‘08

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