Rugby All-Ireland League: So much for the perceived power bases of AIB All-Ireland League rugby. Whereas the famed Templeogue nurseries of St Mary's and Terenure will renew local rivalry in the second division next season, Trinity have ensured that the next Colours match will be a first-division fixture, thereby showing that rumours concerning the demise of colleges rugby were premature.
The oldest club in continuous existence in the world, Trinity have celebrated their 150th year in the grandest possible manner by emulating UCD in winning the sole promotion slot from Division Two.
Starting the day in second place, the students availed of Old Belvedere's 24-7 defeat at UL Bohemians (who lay third on Saturday morning and still in contention), by beating Sunday's Well 32-3 at College Park.
"We're thrilled, and amazed," said head coach Tony Smeeth yesterday, "although I had a feeling that Belvo might come unstuck against UL Bohs, who are probably the best team in the division - apart from ourselves, of course."
On hearing UL Bohemians were 24-0 and three tries to the good at half-time in Limerick, Smeeth informed his players (who were then leading 10-0 with just one try) they would probably need a bonus point. After further tries by Hugh Hogan and Conor McShane, Trinity's inspirational Irish under-21 number eight Jamie Heaslip scored his second try of the game in the 69th minute for the bonus point.
Trinity's hard-working team of mostly third-year students (average age 20.4, says Smeeth) have benefited from an academy-type set-up and should stay intact next season.
Their win consigned Sunday's Well to relegation, while it will be little consolation to UL Bohemians that they have earned home advantage in the semi-finals of the largely academic play-offs against UCC, or to Old Belvedere that they have edged out Bective Rangers for a place in those semi-finals away to Trinity.
In the first-division play-offs, Cork Constitution will host Buccaneers, while Shannon will entertain Belfast Harlequins. Buccaneers' 9-3 win away against Dungannon secured their top-four place, though Ballymena's loss to Belfast Harlequins ensured Buccaneers of a semi-final anyhow.
Dungannon could have been relegated had Galwegians picked up one more try in beating St Mary's and Dolphin had overcome Blackrock, though ultimately the Galway club were indebted to Blackrock's 13-6 win at Musgrave Park. That result consigned Dolphin to the second division.
Highfield secured the sole promotion place from Division Three with a 26-17 win at home to Corinthians ahead of Greystones, whose 31-10 win against Naas sent the Kildare side back to the Leinster League.
They will be replaced by one of Bruff, Monivea and Coleraine.DIVISION ONE: Play-offs: Saturday May 1st: Cork Constitution v Buccaneers, Temple Hill; Shannon v Belfast Harlequins, Thomond Park (tbc). Final: Saturday May 8th, Lansdowne Road (4.00). Relegated: Dolphin and St Mary's.
DIVISION TWO: Promoted: Dublin University. Play-offs: Saturday May 1st: Dublin University v Old Belvedere, College Park; UL Bohemians v UCC, Thomond Park (tbc). Final: Saturday May 8th, Lansdowne Road (2.00). Relegated: Sunday's Well.
DIVISION THREE: Promoted: Highfield. Play-offs: Saturday May 1st: Highfield v Ards, Woodleigh Park; Greystones v City of Derry, Dr Hickey Park. Final: Saturday May 8th, Lansdowne Road (noon). Relegated: Naas.
