Published: Wednesday, 28th April, 2010 5:00pm

Athlone IT claim title with convincing win over WIT

Athlone IT 40 Waterford IT 6

ATHLONE IT comfortably saw off the challenge of reigning champions Waterford IT at Dubarry Park last Wednesday evening, to capture the Irish Rugby Colleges Union Division 1 title.

Not only did Athlone do enough to dispose of Waterford's bid for a third successive Division 1 crown, but they also did it with plenty to spare.

Five tries - including one apiece for Buccaneers players Paul Harte, Conor Lavelle and Sean Stapleton - and a further penalty try, awarded in the 38th minute - gave Athlone comfortable breathing space throughout the contest, after they initially built up a healthy 20-0 lead before the interval.

Although Waterford briefly rallied early in the second half, scoring two penalties, Athlone quickly regained their composure and set about recording a very impressive margin of victory.

Athlone had further incentive to deny Waterford a third straight title, as the Midlanders' are the last college to win three-in-a-row, an achievement which was, in fact, part of a four-in-a-row series from 2001-2004.

Prior to last midweek's triumph, in front of about 300 spectators, 2006 was the last time Athlone IT went all the way in this competition.

Also among the Athlone try-scorers were Connemara's Martin Coyne and Rory Walshe, of West Offaly Lions, while the latter's club-mate, Domhnal Corbett, kicked three penalties and a conversion.

However, the margin of Athlone's success could have been far greater had Corbett not missed several opportunities to convert tries.

Despite eventually achieving a vast margin of victory, it actually took Athlone a fair few minutes to settle into the game, with Waterford missing a great chance to take a fifth minute lead when Brendan Walsh's penalty attempt went wide of the posts.

Athlone were also forced into some good moments of defending, with Conor Lavelle standing firm in the face of pressure down Waterford's left flank.

Athlone eventually calmed down and began to take a hold of proceedings, as their pack started to display much authority.

Good surging runs from left winger Sean Stapleton and second-row Benny McManus were stopped in their stride, before Corbett comfortably kicked the game's opening score on 13 minutes, sending over a penalty from straight between the posts, after lively scrum-half Karl Hurley was illegally kept down as Athlone mauled their way toward the end-line.

Waterford almost responded immediately, but their best player on the day, Stephen Duffy, was fractionally off-target with a fine attempt at a drop-goal.

Paddy Madden's accurate kick for touch set the tone for the game's opening try in the 18th minute.

Madden found touch roughly ten yards from the Waterford line, and when Athlone won the resulting line-out, the ball was excellently worked out to Sean Stapleton to go over in the left corner of the field. Stand-off Corbett dropped his conversion too short, but Athlone were now in their stride with an 8-0 advantage.

Ten minutes later though, Athlone were over the line again. A beautifully worked move involving Corbett, who cunningly waited for the perfect moment, to feed the supporting Rory O'Connor, was rounded off when O'Connor then laid the ball off to Lavelle to make it 13-0. It was a move that boasted both accuracy and patience, with Corbett, in particular, showing great poise in the build-up, while the roles of Benny McManus and Karl Turley showed not go unnoticed in this instance either.

Lavelle also deserved a try for a commanding and assured first-half display on Athlone's right wing, but Corbett found the conversion too difficult and missed the target.

O'Connor almost got in for another try moments later, but was denied at the line by the covering Stephen Duffy.

Athlone's next period of attacking dominance - when both McManus and Staunton almost got in - was halted in very peculiar circumstances. Referee David Keane was forced to call a brief halt to proceedings as two dogs made their way onto the pitch. Referee Keane saw the funny side and promptly issued both dogs with red cards, much to the amusement of the crowd.

When the fun had ended, Athlone quickly regained a foot-hold and were awarded a penalty-try in the 38th minute, when Waterford's forwards continually messed about with Athlone's rolling-maul. Corbett had the easy task of adding a further seven points to Athlone's total and they led 20-0 at the interval.

Two penalties within moments of the restart, scored by Brendan Walsh and Stephen Duffy, gave Waterford a little bit of hope, but Athlone quashed any thoughts of a comeback thanks to a sweeping move involving O'Connor and Stapleton, that ended with Paul Harte going over the line, to make it 28-6 in the 55th minute.

Moments earlier, Corbett had taken a fine penalty from near the right touchline, but couldn't follow up that marvellous effort by converting Harte's score.

Lavelle did the spade-work for Martin Coyne's try three minutes later, and when Burke and Hurley assisted O'Connor in setting up Athlone's fifth try - scored by Rory Walshe - Athlone had a 38-6 lead that was further added to by Corbett's conversion.

SCORERS: Athlone IT - D Corbett (3 pens and 2 cons), S Stapleton, C Lavelle, P Harte, M Coyne, R Walshe (try each). One penalty try.

Waterford IT: B Walsh and S Duffy (1 pen each).

ATHLONE IT: Rory O'Connor (Monivea); Conor Lavelle (Buccaneers), Paul Harte (Buccaneers), Paddy Madden (Connemara), Sean Stapleton (Buccaneers); Domhnal Corbett (West Offaly Lions), Karl Turley (Buccaneers); Martin Staunton (Buccaneers), Gavin Kelly (Buccaneers), Eddie Brady (Tullamore); Benny McManus (Buccaneers), Paul Galvin (Buccaneers); Martin Coyne (Connemara), Pauric Burke (Buccaneers), Rory Walshe (West Offaly Lions). Ciaran Jennings (Westport) for Brady (38 mins), Joe Bonar (unattached) for Stapleton (60), Shane O'Neill (Buccaneers) for Coyne (60), Terry Hynes (Buccaneers) for Lavelle (65), James O'Connell (Buccaneers) for Madden (65).

WATERFORD IT: Shane Kelly; Robert Conlon, Simon Nelson, John Clogan, Deek Butler; Stephen Duffy, Paddy Hyland; Emmett Hall, Brendan Walsh, Pat Gavin; Ailbe Davitt, Joe McSwiney; Glen Deacon, John McSwiney, Tadgh Nyhill.

Referee: David Keane.