Wins for the top four in Division 1A of the Energia All-Ireland League made for a relatively unsurprising 11th round but it still felt significant.
As a result, the leading quartet of St Mary’s, Clontarf, Cork Con and Terenure opened up the first shaft of daylight between the play-off places and the rest.
Pick of the wins was undoubtedly St Mary’s, who responded to their home loss against Lansdowne by recovering from a 17-5 interval deficit to emerge 35-20 victors away to Young Munster.
After Zach Hopkins struck first for the visitors, Munsters made good use of a first-half breeze, producing three tries through fullback Stephen Lyons and winger Oisin Pepper (two), although all were in the corner, Julian Leszczynski converting one.
St Mary’s gradually turned the screw in the second half and Munsters were down to 13 men in the final 10 minutes when Conor Hayes marked his return to Tom Clifford Park by converting Mark Fogarty’s second try and one by Adam McEvoy after a break by lock Daniel Leane which earned the bonus point with the last play.
Hayes landed six from seven in a man of the match display which was watched by his dad in a Munsters’ hat, while the returning Dan Goggin also had a big game in midfield opposite his brother Tom in the home second-row.
Clontarf stayed two points behind with a game in hand after beating Ballynahinch 45-16. ‘Hinch trailed 17-13 at the break but lost influential centre George Pringle through injury.
With Brian Deeny and Alex Soroka in tandem, Clontarf’s power game created the gaps, with in-form outhalf Conor Kelly landing seven from seven in a 20-point haul also featuring one of the home side’s six tries.
This was a fourth successive bonus point win for ‘Tarf and similarly the champions Cork Con are also building momentum, albeit a third bonus point win in succession was rather routine as they extended their unbeaten run to six in front of the 1985 team at Temple Hill by 43-10 over a depowered Garryowen.
Despite the departure of Harrison Brewer to Japan, Terenure extended their unbeaten run to five games and remain fourth after recovering from an 8-0 interval deficit to beat UCD 25-10 at home. Centre Ethan Reilly scored two tries while winger Craig Adams sealed the deal with his sixth of the season.
Lansdowne stayed seventh despite a 22-14 win (their fourth in five games) at home to City of Armagh on Sunday thanks to tries by Stephen Madigan, Cillian Redmond and Jack Matthews, with Madigan also kicking two conversions and a penalty, but it’s the ninth time they’ve scored three tries.
Old Belvedere created a seven-point lead atop 1B after Nenagh Ormond’s surprise 27-21 defeat in Naas, although they were pushed all the way to win 24-22 away to bottom placed Shannon, who had a second-half hat-trick by replacement Oisin Minogue.
The top four in 2A also won, although the top two, Instonians and Corinthians, were pushed all the way in beating Cashel 36-34 and Banbridge 19-16 respectively.
Energia AIL Division results
Division 1A: Clontarf 45 Ballynahinch 16; Cork Constitution 43 Garryowen 10; Terenure College 25 UCD 11; Young Munster 20 St Mary’s College 35; (Played Sunday) Lansdowne 22 City of Armagh 14.
Division 1B: Dublin University 12 Old Wesley 27; Naas 27 Nenagh Ormond 21; Queen’s University 52 Highfield RFC 26; Shannon RFC 22 Old Belvedere 24; UCC Rugby 26 Blackrock College 17.
Division 2A: Corinthians 19 Banbridge 16; Greystones 46 Ballymena 12; Instonians 36 Cashel RFC 34; MU Barnhall 22 Old Crescent 10; Navan 29 Buccaneers 5.
Division 2B: Dungannon 23 UL Bohemian 13; Malahide 18 Galwegians 24; Rainey RFC 50 Malone 13; Skerries 15 Clogher Valley 40; Sligo 12 Wanderers 31.
Division 2C: Belfast Harlequins 28 Tullamore 21; Clonmel 29 Midleton 11; Dolphin 54 Enniscorthy 28; Monkstown 46 Ballyclare RFC 33; Omagh Acad. 20 Bruff 23.
All-Ireland League Women’s Division 1: Suttonians 7 UL Bohemian 57; Blackrock College 70 Tullow RFC 0; Ballincollig 26 Wicklow 44; Galwegians 17 Old Belvedere 10; Railway Union 71 Cooke 5.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to the Counter Ruck podcast for the best rugby chat and analysis
