February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN — Cork Constitution and Ballymena share the top spot in Div. I of the All-Ireland rugby league following last weekend’s second series of matches. International out-half Ronan O’Gara masterminded Constitution’s 21-12 success over Garryowen at Dooradoyle, while Ballymena traveled to Stradbrook and recovered from a shaky start to run out winners against Blackrock by 20-16.
Trailing 10-0 at one stage, two tries by wing Scott Young set up Ballymena for a strong finish.
Galwegians, meanwhile, continued their good run of form with a 15-13 road victory over Young Munster. Eric Elwood scored a try, a penalty and a conversion.
Terenure moved up into fourth place when they hammered Clontarf by 46-13, with Eric Miller scoring two tries.
Lansdowne took the points 16-11 against Buccaneers in Ballinasloe, and Dungannon inflicted a second successive defeat on champions St. Mary’s, 30-8 at Stevenson Park.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
In the final game, Old Crescent were 22-7 winners over DLSP.
Meanwhile, Ireland international Brian O’Driscoll was in impressive form for the Barbarians, who were beaten by the touring South Africans in Cardiff, Wales, last Sunday. O’Driscoll scored his team’s first try as South Africa rounded off their tour of Britain and Ireland with a 41-31 victory.