Lansdowne took another important step in their bid to capture the Ulster Bank League Division One A title with an emphatic bonus point success over Young Munster on the back pitch at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The win extends Lansdowne’s lead to 14 points ahead of Clontarf with just five games remaining.

Craig Ronaldson contributed 17 points with a try, two penalties and three conversions while the elusive Cian Aherne weighed in with two tries. In all, Lansdowne scored five tries.

The victory was ample revenge for Lansdowne’s 16-15 away loss to Young Munster, one of just two defeats the league leaders have suffered this season.

At the other end of the table, Shannon continued their recent improvement following a comprehensive 45-26 home victory over Cork Constitution.

The win moves Shannon from bottom spot to third last. It was a performance which suggests that they are well capable of moving further away from relegation trouble.

Once again, Munster flanker Niall Ronan was among their try scorers. They got six, the others coming from Eric Moloney (two), James Luxton, Dave O’Donovan and John Shine.

UL Bohs now fill the bottom spot, two points behind Old Belvedere and three adrift of Shannon. Their troubles continued when they were well beaten 27-9 by Dolphin at Musgrave Park. John Gleeson and James Cronin scored their tries with the rest of the points coming from the boot of Barry Keeshan.

The remaining game saw St Mary’s College continue their push up the table with a 25-15 home victory over Garryowen. Steve Toal-Lennon, Rob Hudson and Gareth Austin scored tries as St Mary’s moved up into fourth spot.