DCU Saints 32-6 Dublin Rhinos

June 9th, 2008 | Baker | Game Reports

(Photos by Dominic McKeown)

After two conference defeats to Dublin Rebels, DCU Saints continued with their playoffs ambitions with an entertaining game in Castleknock against the Dublin Rhinos. Winning 32-6 on the day, the DCU Saints played some great offensive and defensive football.

Rookie Dave Mullins caught his second TD of his career and added two more during the game. Dave proved difficult to cover with 4yd, 20 yd and 5 yd TD catches, his third being an acrobatic catch and grab into the top corner of the end zone. Willie Coyne had 70 yds catching on the day when QB Cormac Ecklof threw some superb passes to various receivers including Shane Maguire for a well taken 2xp.

FB Killian Roche showed DCU weren’t only about the passing game and ran in a fine 20yd TD in the fourth quarter. With over 80yds running on the day RB Dave McMahon capped his day with DCU’s fifth and final touchdown of the day.

The Rhinos made life hard for DCU defense in the first half of the game but after the halftime break the Saints defense raised its game and with excellent run stopping took away all of the Rhino offensive potency. Collectively the DCU Defense took to their tasks with great discipline and enjoyed the fruits of their labour with the defensive line restricting the Rhinos run game to under 50 yds and pressurising the pass to enable two interceptions. Special teams played well on the day with excellent yards on returns in particular. Special mention goes to Gary Fogarty on the Defensive line, Damian Baker and Eoin Fox as Outside Linebackers and Alex Trimble playing defensive back.

DCU go into their next game against the Belfast Bulls as underdogs on 29th June but with a playoff place likely for the winner then its all up for grabs.