Dublin University erased their defeat by Durham on Monday with a scintillating display of running rugby against the University of Rome, whom they defeated 45-12 yesterday in the European Universities Championship, in Durham.
UCD also won their second game, 14-0 against Northumbria in Toulouse while Queen's bounced back from a massive opening defeat to win 36-16 against Edinburgh in Cardiff.
University College, Cork and Oxford University are on a collision course after both sides recorded their second victory in their pool at the Mardyke yesterday.
UCC had little trouble in eliminating Bristol University from the tournament with a 23-0 win.
Aidan O'Shea had two tries and Mick O'Driscoll added another with Colin Healy kicking a conversion and two penalties.
With the superior points advantage of plus 45 to plus 44, UCC only need a draw to advance to the semi-finals when the teams meet at the Mardyke tomorrow evening (5.30).
Roma opened the scoring after a bout of fine passing down the left. But Shane McLoughlin raced away from halfway for the first of his three tries for Trinity.
Karl Richardson put Shane McLoughlin in for a second try - Mark McHugh converted. Lock Daragh Keating plunged over just before half-time. Roma reduced the deficit with a try by Boni which was converted but Trinity hit back immediately with a penalty by McHugh. McHugh kicked two more penalties after the break before Ian Quigley went under the posts. Howard Welch got over and Shane McLoughlin finished the game with a wonderful try in the left-hand corner. Jake Smith landed UCD's first score in their 14-point win with a penalty after 20 minutes before second row Keith Smith went over.
Full-back Hugh McMahon landed a second penalty to give his side an 11-0 advantage before McMahon landed another kick in the 65th minute.
In cold, snowy conditions Queen's were behind 15-5 at half-time against Edinburgh University - two tries and a penalty to just one try in reply from scrum-half Gareth McKittrick. The Belfast side produced a super comeback with flanker Harry Boyd and lock John Byrnes landing a try each.
Out-half Gareth Harron's conversion brought the teams to 15-17 before the Scots added a penalty.
Queen's, however, hit back with a try from replacement lock Peter Spence and two more from John Patton which were both converted by Harron for the comfortable 36-18 win.
Oxford, who opened their campaign with a 42-17 victory over Bristol University proved too strong for Cardiff Medics (22-3) yesterday afternoon.
