Dublin Rebels 42 - 12 DCU Saints

Venue: AALSA

Scorers

1st quarter: REB Sam Hodgins 50 yd run (6-0); REB Conor Ryan 60 yd pass from Andrew Dennehy (12-0)

2nd quarter: REB Carl Faichney 40 yd pass from Andrew Dennehy, James Collins 2xpt (20-0); REB Carl Faichney 60 yd pass
from Andrew Dennehy (26-0) DCU Eoin Stapleton 8 yd run (26-6)

3rd quarter: No scoring

4th quarter: DCU Willie Coyne 25 yd pass from Conor Buggle (26-12); REB Sam Hodgins 5 yd run, Sam Hodgins 2xpt (34-12) REB Conor Ryan 15 yd run, Mick Finucane 2xpt (42-12)

Game Report.

The Dublin Rebels maintained their unbeaten streak this season with a convincing 42-12 victory over the DCU saints at a sun-drenched AALSA today.

Rebels RB Sam Hodgins opened the scoring on the second play of their opening drive with a 50 yd run to the outside. The next score also went to the Rebels (after a great pick by Rebels MLB Ross McCooey) when WR Conor Ryan scored from a 60 yd pass from QB Andy Dennehy. In the second quarter, Rebels WR Carl Faichney scored two big play TD's first taking it in from 40 yds and then a 60 yd boomer from an in-form Dennehy. Rebels offensive MVP James Collins converted the first of the touchdowns. The Saints found themselves 26-0 down but did not give up the fight easily. QB Eoin Stapleton scored on an 8yd bootleg to get a vital score just before halftime.

The second half began with both defences playing well. The Saints defense lead by Damien Baker, Joe Carlyle and Neil Callanan did a great job of stiffling the Rebels offense in the third quarter, and 3 interceptions from Willie Coyne, Florian Steinmetz and Peter Kissiov meant that the game was far from over. Rebels CB Marcus Naylor had 2 interceptions himself to help the Rebels cause. But the Saints began to get some momentum on Offense, with Dave McMahon, Cillian Hurley and Conor Buggle playing particularly well. DCU then scored again, early in the fourth quarter, when Conor Buggle passed 25 yds to Willie Coyne, making the score 26-12 to the Rebels.

Then the Rebels, lead by fantastic blocking by the Offensive Line of Feargal O'Hanlon, Tobias Hansson, Dave Sherwin, Shane Campbell, Simon Connellan, Dave Griffith and TE Mick Finucane, got two more scores on the ground through Hodgins and Ryan for 5 and 15 yds respectively. TE Mick Finucane scored the 2xpt on a screen play to make the final score 42-12 to the Rebels.

Univ Limerick Vikings 12-18 Carrickfergus Knights

Venue: Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus

Scorers:
1st Quarter: CAR: David Wright 1yd run (0-6).
2nd Quarter: CAR: Adam Deveney 1yd run (0-12).
3rd Quarter: CAR: Clinton McDowell 90yd kick off return (0-18); Danny Smith 5yd pass from Chris Bissett (6-18).
4th Quarter: Glen Carr 4yd run (12-18).

The Carrickfergus Knights kept their chances of finishing in first place alive by defeating the UL Vikings in a close game. The Knights got into a commanding 18-0 lead by early in the third quarter, but the Vikings came back to within one score and threatened to even up the game late in the fourth quarter.

After a turnover on the Vikings opening possession, the Knights marched into scoring range before halfback David Wright punched the ball in from 1 yard out. Both teams were had some success moving the ball during the remainder of the half, but the Knights moved it more effectively on the ground, mainly due to half back Wright, and got their second score of the game when quarterback Adam Deveney scored on a short yardage quarterback sneak. Both defenses played well, coming up with some key stops at crucial time. Kieran Stack and Cormac Ryan had some good tackles for the Vikings and Mark Harris and Clinton McDowell played well for the Knights. The Knights got into scoring range late in the quarter but were intercepted by Guinane.

The Knights looked like they sealed the game on the opening kick-off of the second half. Clinton McDowell fielded the ball just on front of his own goal line and after eluding the coverage sprinted free for a 90 yard return for a touchdown to put the Knight 18-0 up. However, the Vikings never die attitude got them back into the game. Scat back Liam Ryan had some mazy runs for first downs and receivers Marc Ashworth and Michael Toomey caught some passes from reserve quarterback Chris Bissett who was playing in relief of absent Jeremiah Sexton. The Vikings got their first touchdown late in the third quarter thanks to a 4 yard pass from Bissett to Danny Smith. The Vikings defense then came good, stopping the Knights on 4th down on the ensuing drive. The Vikings then scored again mid way through the final quarter – Glen Carr ran the ball in from 6 yard out after a long drive. Both defenses played well on their next two drives to prevent further scoring before the Vikings got one final chance inside the 2 minute warning. A long pass to Glen Carr got them into scoring range, but the Knights defense held firm and finished the game with an interception on 4th down.

Overall, the ground game of the Knights was the difference between the teams. David Wright had one of his best games running behind a line that included Paul Braniff and Terry Lynch. The win keeps the Knights in the hut for the league championship and the Vikings, who have already secured a play-off spot, will have to wait on other results to find out their seeding in the play-offs.

Saturday 6th May 2006.

Dublin Dragons v Dublin City Marshals

Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin.

Game called off due to absent emergency medical cover.