Corinthians shade it. Corinthians 17— Queens University 11.1

Corinthians just about held on for a fine win against table toppers Queens at Cloonacauneen Park on saturday.The game was played in shocking conditions with a gale blowing in from Corrib.IRFU Referee Shane Kierans had to be on top of his game in such conditions.The home side won the toss and played with the prevailing wind and rain at there backs.Corinthians did not get on the score board until the fifteen minute with outhalf Conor Murphy slotting a penalty after the visitors scrum collapsed on there twenty five.Murphy slotted another in the twentieth minute after great pressure by the home side pack with Aaron Conneely and Aurelien Cassanova very much to the fore. Queens conceded another penalty on their ten meter line after captain Mark Boyd was pulled for playing offside Murphy converted same.The same player converted another penalty just before the break leaving the home side leading by twelve points too nil.

The students  started to assert themselves in the second half and they were on the score board after four minutes when outhalf James McKinney slotted a fine penalty.From the kick off Queens were on the attack again with McKinney going for a drop goal which was just wide.It looked as if it was only a matter of time for the flood gates to open for the visitors but Corinthian coach Sean Duignan made some quick changes with Joey Merrigan moving from the backrow to the hooking position and Tom Toolan coming in as loose head. This gave the home side some momentum allowing them to grind there way up the pitch with sub scrumhalf Kieran Marmion getting good ball.After mauling there way into the Queens twenty five Marmion got his back line moving with a quick ball out to Murphy who found center captain Finn Gormley on his shoulder.Gormely drove forward with winger Darin Classen coming in to assist and gaining the touch down in the corner.The Belfast outfit  upped there game at this stage and gained a foothold in the Corinthian half with the home side conceding a penalty in front of posts McKinney slotted same. From the drop off the students gained possession again and worked their way down to the Cloonacauneen outfits five meter line from the ensuing ruck Queens number eight Tom Patton scrambled over to touch down in the corner McKinney missed the convert.With ten minutes still on the clock the home side defended like demons until Kierans blew the final whistle.This was a fine scalp for the home side winning by seventeen points to eleven.There next outing is away to D.S.L.P. on December 3^rd Kick off 2.30pm.Venue Kirwan Park.

Corinthian Team:D Panter.D Claasen.F Gormally.W Williams.B Dixon.C Murpphy.M Murphy(K Marmion).F Bealham.K O Byrne.D Small.(T Toolan).G Warde.P Cunningham(S Gerrity).J Merrigan.A Conneely.A Casanova.