Defensive Errors Prove Costly for Midleton

Midleton 9 Queens University 17

J.Hitchmough 2 Pens M.Barker, I.Whitten, M.Hooks tries

J.Holland 1 drop goal D.McIlwaine 1 con.

For the first time this season Midleton failed to take a point from an A.I.L. Div. 3 Fixture. When they reflect on their performance they will be aware that on each of the three tries conceded it was a case of missed tackles by their defence.

On a windswept day it looked as if both packs would cancel each other out but Queens former Ulster Interprovincial Scrum Half Neill Doak took every opportunity to feed his lively back line. And so it was that only after five minutes winger Barker sneaked in at the corner, the try being awarded after consultation between Referee Quinn and the Touch Judge.

Shortly afterwards Midleton had a lucky escape when only a try saving tackle from Gary Colbert saved a certain score. A great break from Hitchmough carried on by Aidan McCarthy took Midleton in to an attacking position and Hitchmough scored from the resultant penalty. Constant pressure gave Hitchmough another scoring penalty opportunity. This was followed by an excellent drop goal by Jason Holland which put Midleton into a 9pts to 5pts lead coming up to the break. From a breakaway move on the stroke of half time centre Whitten finished a free flowing back movement by scoring Queens second try to give them a half time lead.

Roy McArdle and Owen O’Shea replaced Brierley and Colbert in the Midleton front row. Midleton enjoyed a territorial advantage in the third quarter but were unable to penetrate a solid Queens’s defence with Duncan Walker being brought down feet from the line. Having repulsed Midleton's best efforts Queens showed their ability to score from distance when winger Cochrane evaded two would be tacklers before

passing to centre Hooks who went in under the posts with McIlwaine converting.

Peter O’Donoghue replaced Mark O’Connell for the closing stage of the game.

Midleton fought gallantly for one additional score to obtain what would have been a deserved losing bonus point but when Hitchmough’s last minute penalty drifted outside the left hand upright it was just not to be.

Midleton will now have to pick themselves for a game against table toppers Instonians in Belfast next Saturday.

1 Mark O’Flynn

2 James Colbert

3 Kevin Brierley

4 Dan O’Connor

5 Aidan McCarthy

6 Duncan Walker

7 Philip Morris

8 Mark O’Connell

9 Rob Smyth

10 Jason Holland

11 Paul Whelan

12 Damian Smyth

13 Jeff Hitchmough

14 Stephen McCarthy

15 Gary Colbert

16 Owen O’Shea

17 Robert Colan-O’Leary

18 Peter O’Donoughue

19 Roy McArdle

20 Donovan Gee

Referee ; Jude Quinn M.A.R./ I.R,F.U.

Touch Judges ; Kieran Murphy M.A.R & Bill Kavanagh M.A.R.