17/01/2026   Match report Boyne 1st XV v Suttonians 1st XV   with thanks to  Alex Cassidy 

 Missed Chances the Story of the Day as Second-placed Suttonians 1st XV Fall to Top-of-the-Table Boyne 

After last week’s draw, Sutton travelled to Boyne knowing a win was needed if they were going to get themselves back in the driving seat of the Leinster League 1A. It was never going to be an easy task, with Boyne a physical outfit and wet conditions adding to the challenge. 

Sutton were the sharper of the two sides early on, with Joe Kelly and Cian Buckley laying a solid foundation up front, while the Sutton backs boasted some of their potential. Sutton earned a penalty in midfield due to a late tackle. Barnes kicked deep into the Boyne 22, giving Sutton a good attacking opportunity. Sutton looked threatening and edged ever so close to the Boyne line, but Boyne rolled up their sleeves, winning a breakdown penalty. 

Cian Buckley earned the hard yards yet again for his side. Mikey McGiff, fresh into the side this week, showed off his brilliant skillset with a cut-out pass to Buckeridge, who finished off the job, powering over in the corner. Jack Gallagher was unable to add the extras, giving the visitors a 5-point lead in the opening 10 minutes. 

Boyne were quick to respond. Bevan Duffy and Dylan Lynch combined to display great heads-up rugby to send full-back Eoghan Duffy loose, but a forward pass brought the play to a halt. It wouldn’t be long before Boyne found themselves on the scoreboard when Josh Oakley’s box kick was blocked down by Leon Fox. Duffy pushed his conversion wide, leaving the score at 5–5. 

As the half progressed, both sides were looking for their opponent’s weakness. A chaotic passage of play down the Sutton end led to a brief altercation, but referee John Purcell kept matters under control. 

Boyne’s attack began to flurry approaching half-time with some well-worked moves. Bevan Duffy played a pivotal role in his side’s attack as he exploited a Sutton overlap to find back-row Colm Joyce-Ahearne in support. Joyce-Ahearne delivered the killer blow, sending winger Adam Brodigan over the whitewash. Duffy yet again couldn’t find the uprights, leaving Boyne ahead 10–5. 

Sutton continued to trouble Boyne’s defence before the interval. Try scorer Leon Fox received a yellow card after a maul infringement, leaving Boyne without one of their key men for 10 minutes. Although Sutton couldn’t make hay when the sun was shining, they attempted to go wide at the Boyne five-metre line, only for a pass to go astray, pushing them back 20 metres. Boyne inevitably won a breakdown penalty. 

Both sides upped the ante in the second half, seeing who would crack first. Sutton went close with some good handling throughout the midfield. McGiff remained industrious throughout, while Boyne’s defence scrambled well to shut down any Sutton attacks. 

The Boyne attack struck next. Their physical forward pack started to get some rewards. Daragh Kelly found himself on the wrong side of the yellow card while Boyne were in Sutton’s red zone. Boyne went to the corner off the resulting penalty, mauling their way over the Sutton line, Fox claiming his second of the day. Duffy still couldn’t find his kicking boots, leaving his side up 15–5. 

Boyne didn’t hold back, applying more pressure on Sutton, turning Jack Gallagher over on his own line. Linehan bought his side out of trouble by stealing the lineout. Sutton’s defence kept their heads above water, managing to keep Boyne from going over for their fourth of the day. 

Sutton spent what felt like a lifetime in the Boyne end, going close on numerous occasions. No matter what they threw at Boyne’s resilient defence, they held out. When Sutton’s forward pack couldn’t punch over, they tried using their backs, but the wet conditions were not ideal for flash handling. As the clock wound down and Sutton trailed by 10 points, there were calls to go for the posts from a penalty and secure the losing bonus point. 

However, the Sutton players opted to take a quick tap. A wide pass from McGiff to Buckeridge couldn’t go to hand, bringing the contest to an end and sending Boyne six points ahead at the top of the table. 

Try James Buckeridge


Next Up: Saturday 31/01/2026 Away to Wexford Wanderers 2.30pm