Division One Round-up: Lansdowne continued their pursuit of runaway leaders Clontarf with a 40-15 victory over bottom-of-the-table Terenure on the back pitch at Lansdowne Road. The final scoreline flattered the home side as Terenure weren't handed the dusting everyone expected.
Harry Williams' Lansdowne led 19-10 at the interval through tries from Aidan McCullen, Matt Leek and Fiachra Baynes, with Leek tagging on a couple of conversions.
Terenure's response was a try from Matt Sutherland, with David McAllister adding a conversion and a penalty. When second-row Stephen O'Connor surged over for a try in the 45th minute, Lansdowne had pretty much sewn up the match and, crucially, a bonus point.
Sutherland's second try made it 26-15 but Lansdowne closed the stronger, with Adam Magro and Liam Toland making it a six-try haul on the day.
Ballymena, too, maintained their play-off ambitions with a 66-12 thumping of UL Bohemian at Eaton Park. Ulster and Ireland A wing James Topping grabbed four tries and outhalf Adam Larkin kicked all nine conversions as the home side romped home.
Promising young second-row Matt McCullough grabbed a brace of tries, with Andy Maxwell, Scott Young and Adam Larkin also crossing, the latter kicking nine conversions and a penalty. UL Bohemian wing Philip Treacy managed two tries for the visitors.
Galwegians took a giant step towards play-off contention when they beat Dungannon 39-18 at Crowley Park, scoring five tries and getting a bonus point in the process. Hooker Jerry Flannery continued the fine season he is having by scoring a brace of tries, while Peter Bracken, Martin McPhail and Michael Swift also crossed the Dungannon line.
Gavin Duffy was excellent for the home side, while the Ulster side, who seem set to lose coach Andy Earl, managed tries from Seamus Mallon and Jan Cunningham.
Cork Constitution are still in with a chance of making the play-offs following their 61-5 thrashing of Carlow at Temple Hill.
Ronan O'Gara produced a superb performance, distributing flawlessly and kicking seven from eight opportunities. Anthony Horgan showed no ill effects from his injury lay-off, running in three tries. Dave O'Brien added a couple and Jim Williams, Jerry Murray, Brian O'Meara and Rory Kenneally also crossed for tries. Maurice Logue managed the visitors' only riposte.
Shannon and Garryowen played out a 19-19 draw at Thomond Park. The home side led 19-0 at the interval with a try from wing Colm McMahon and four penalties and a conversion from Andrew Thompson. Amazingly, the second half belonged to Garryowen, who scored three tries through Paul Neville, Pat Humphries and Dermot O'Sullivan, with Killian Keane converting two.
Belfast Harlequins became the first Ulster side since Instonians to win at Templeville Road when pipping St Mary's College with a late drop goal from Sheldon Coulter.
