LANSDOWNE'S chances of winning the championship are very slim, and it is unlikely Old Belvedere will be relegated, so it was difficult to get excited about this game. And so it was for the small crowd which turned out to see Lansdowne run in five tries past the hapless home team at Anglesea Road.

Lansdowne out half Eric Elwood, back in action after being out for six weeks through injury, could not rise above the mediocrity. The Ireland international's kicking from the hand and of the dead ball were well below his, usual high standard.

By contrast, his half back partner David O'Mahony had a hugely impressive game, scoring a hat trick of tries. Another to impress was league debutant Robert Becker, who looped around flanker Andy Doyle to dive over in the left corner after just 10 minutes.

Billy Treacy kept Old Belvedere in touch with a 15th minute penalty, but almost immediately the home side found themselves defending inside their own 22 following a fine run by Lansdowne right wing Marcus Dillon. O'Mahony ran in on the blindside with some ease.

Old Belvedere struck back Treacy converted his second penalty after Elwood had been penalised for playing the ball on the ground.

In the eight minutes before halftime Lansdowne were camped on the Old Belvedere line. Flanker Stephen Rooney finally broke through to score under the posts. Elwood's conversion made it 17-6.

Elwood landed a straight forward penalty 12 minutes into an even scrappier half. Any chances of an Old Belvedere comeback ended with the dismissal of second row Mark Feely for flooring Becker with a punch in the 59th minute.

Lansdowne opted for the scrum, and O'Mahony again found the gap. Ten minutes from time he stole in again.