Rhinos 3-32 DCU Saints

The sun came out to play on Alsaa when the DCU Saints hosted conference rivals Dublin Rhinos. The first quarter was a tight affair when both defence’s kept the game scoreless. Indeed the only highlight was a 30yd catch by DCU WR Dave Mullins. An attempted Field goal by K/WR Shane Maguire was marginally wide.

The second quarter started well for Rhinos and their TE was unlucky to drop a catch in the end zone. This was the kick start that DCU offense needed and drove down the pitch with a fine catch from WR Mullins and great running from RB Dave McMahon and FB Killian Roche. DCU capped off a fine drive with a 20yd catch from RB McMahon who danced out of trouble into the endzone. The 1xpt was unsuccessful.

Rhino’s regrouped their offense and after some great scrambles from their QB brought themselves into the DCU Saints redzone. Some stout defending by the defensive line forced Rhinos to go for a FG on 4th down which they converted.

DCU went back to their traditional offense at the start of the second half and this paid off when Saints capped off another fine offensive drive by a 25yd catch by WR Thomas Mevel who was playing his last game for DCU prior to returning home to France. The resulting 1xpt was unsuccessful as the upright became the 12th blocker for the Rhinos.

DCU defense had made some adjustments in the second half and this paid off with some containment of the nippy Rhinos QB. On the resulting punt return LB Rushe made a great run along the sideline to setup the DCU offense inside the Rhinos half. A great juggling catch by TE Colm Collins setup FB Roche for DCU’s third TD. The 2xpt was unsuccessful.

In the 4th quarter DCU offsense again found the endzone with a 5yd catch by TE Collins. K/WR Maguire was successful with the 1xpt. Rhinos began to move the ball again through great running from their QB Sean Power but when he was intercepted by CB Peter Kissiov on the goal line, DCU Offense once again drove down field. A fantastic catch and run by FB Roche yielded 60 yds and RB McMahon finished off the drive with a 25yd run into the endzone. Again K/WR Maguire was successful with the 1xpt.

The remainder of the quarter was unsuccessful as both defenses prevented any more scoring. The game finally ended with a 32-3 scoreline to DCU Saints.

Happily, neither team had any serious injuries and was well refereed by the officiating crew and sets up an eagerly awaited rematch by both sides for later in the season.