Clontarf and Old Belvedere continue to lead the way in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League after hard fought victories against Ballynahinch and Garryowen on Saturday.
Going into the Christmas break Clontarf remain a point in front of Old Belvedere. Defending champions Lansdowne are now in third spot seven points further back after demolishing an understrength Dolphin 61-11 on the back pitch at the Aviva Stadium.
Clontarf and Old Belvedere, by contrast, found themselves in really tough encounters despite playing the two bottom sides in the table.
Clontarf eventually emerged victorious 16-12 away to Ballynahinch while Old Belvedere had a somewhat flattering 15-5 home success over Garryowen.
Both had to come from behind. Clontarf scored two first-half tries through prolific right-wing Mick McGrath and hooker Cian Culliton but were 12-10 adrift at the interval because Richie Lobb landed four penalties for Ballynahinch.
It then took a dogged second-half performance from Clontarf to secure their seventh successive victory with outhalf David Joyce kicking two penalties, the second of which came late in the game.
Bottom side Garryowen really put it up to Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road. Their problem was that they wasted far too many opportunities after dominating virtually all of the first half.
The one chance they took saw centre Andy O’Byrne go over for a try to give them a 5-0 advantage. But that was wiped out at the end of the half when Old Belvedere’s 19-year-old centre Peter Robb crashed over for a try which outhalf Shaun Berne converted.
It was a decisive moment as Old Belvedere were down to 14 men at the time.
Although they continued to play with great spirit, Garryowen never quite recovered and they fell 10-5 behind when Berne added a penalty.
The same player subsequently completed an excellent day’s work by scoring a try, which he converted himself, to make sure of victory for Old Belvedere.
If Garryowen were wasteful, the same most certainly could not be said of Lansdowne who crossed for nine tries in their 61-11 success over Dolphin, three of them coming from umber eight Ron Boucher.
UCD were unable to prevent Young Munster from securing a 22-16 victory with Brian Haugh kicking 17 points.
The result means that Lansdowne, UCD and Young Munster are all on 23 points. Cork Constitution come next after recovering from a 15-3 deficit to beat St Mary’s College 22-18 at Templeville Road with tries from James Ryan, Jerry Hurley and Rob Jermyn.
