Bruff 18, DLSP 13.

The first XV Bruff managed to keep their winning streak going when they managed to come away from their Division two clash with De La Salle Palmerston in Kilternan today. Bruff opened the scoring with a Garry Leonard try on 9 minutes, DLSP Scrum half Dustin Jinka slotting a penalty 7 minutes later to bring it back to a 2 point lead.Following a lost lineout which DLSP quickly grabbed, Centre Francis Cooney broke two tackles to run in for their first try of the day. With both sides trading missed penalties, Play swayed over and back between the trylines with both sides attacking at various periods and both defences holding strong. The binning of David Horan 3 minutes into injury time only caused the Bruff pack to stiffen their backs and constant pressure earned them a penalty in front of the posts Which David Maw slotted over with 8 minutes of injury time played in the first half.
Half time score 8 points apiece.

The second half began wit more of the same, both sides attacking both defences holding, mistakes in passing and kicking going astray causing a string of phases breaking down until Cathal O’ Regan fulfiling the captains role after a maul over the DLSP tryline went down, the referee peering into the resulting melee for what seemed like a minute before finally granting the try. With Maw slotting the penalty Bruff took a seven point lead and led to their strongest period in the game.A ten minute period of attack followed and finally the frustration seemed to be  getting to DLSP when their winger was sent to the bin after a boisterous charge in from the side. Again however this seemd to glavanise them into a strong period of attack and Cooney again made a very strong run down the left hand side resulting in his second try. Jinka missed the conversion to leave the score 15 to 13 with a nail biting final eleven minutes. At this stage the Bruff discipline really shone through and despite constant pack pressure in the final few minutes DLSP failed to get the penalty needed to capture the four league points on offer. After repulsing a number of DLSP attackes Bruff ground their way into Salmo territory finally being granted a penalty in the last minute which M aw duly slotted over to allow Bruff run out 18-13 point winners.
Bruff Scores:  Tries G. Leonard, C O’ Regan, 2 Penalties & 1 Conversion: D.Maw.
DLSP Scores:  Tries Francis Cooney x 2, D.Jinka 1 Pen.

Bruff: D.Horan, C. O’ Regan, S.Foster, D. Murnane, A.Laffan, A. Bourke, J.S.Shine, P. Malone. B.Cahill, D.Maw, J. Moore, G. Leonard, J. Malone, P. O’ Brien, B. Deady.