Dungannon 2nd XV made the trip to face Malone 2nd XV knowing they were in for a stern test away from home, The early exchanges proved just that, as Malone struck twice within the opening 20 minutes with two soft tries that left Dungannon chasing the game.

The home side capitalised on defensive lapses to build early momentum, and with both conversions added, Dungannon found themselves staring at a 14–0 deficit before they had properly settled into their rhythm.

However, to their credit, Dungannon remained composed and stuck firmly to their game plan. The forwards began to assert real dominance at scrum time, consistently getting the shove on and earning valuable territory. At the maul, Dungannon were equally impressive — driving with cohesion and control, laying the platform that would bring them back into the contest.

Their pressure and structure eventually told. After sustained possession deep in Malone territory, John Carroll powered his way over the line to register Dungannon’s first score of the afternoon. Aaron Nelson’s conversion attempt drifted narrowly wide, but the try reduced the arrears and shifted the momentum, with the score now 14–5.

Growing in confidence, Dungannon continued to build phases and trust their forward pack to win the collisions. That belief paid off in spectacular fashion when Ben Connelly spotted an opportunity at the breakdown. Picking sharply, he burst through a gap and sprinted half the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts for Dungannon’s second try of the day. This time, Aaron Nelson made no mistake with the conversion, narrowing the score to 14–12 in favour of Malone.

With the game finely poised heading into the final quarter, Dungannon ramped up the intensity. Their forwards maintained dominance at the set-piece, while the backs applied smart territorial pressure, pinning Malone deep in their own half. The sustained pressure began to tell, and the home side started to feel the strain.

As the clock ticked into the red, Malone infringed under heavy defensive pressure, conceding a penalty within striking distance. Up stepped Aaron Nelson, with everything on the line. Showing nerves of steel, he struck the ball sweetly through the uprights to snatch a dramatic 15–14 victory for Dungannon.

A tremendous display of resilience and belief from Dungannon 2nd XV — overcoming an early setback, executing their game plan to perfection, and finishing the stronger side to secure a well-earned win on the road.