Ulster Bank All-Ireland League: Lansdowne will enjoy the festive period that little bit more than their Division 1A rivals after defeating Young Munster 30-24 in a supercharged top of the table clash on Saturday.

Galwegians 19 Cork Constitution 38: Cork Constitution’s sheer hunger for silverware was obvious when captain James Ryan spoke in the aftermath of their 38-19 Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final win over Galwegians at Crowley Park.

Cork Constitution head coach Brian Hickey insists his club’s bid for an historic four in a row of Bateman Cup victories today will be enough to prevent minds wandering to next weekend’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A final.

DIVISION 1A

UCD 0

Ulster Bank AIL review: Division 1A leaders UCD had the measure of local rivals Old Belvedere for the third time in recent weeks, as a three-try salvo steered the students to a terrific 23-6 Ulster Bank League victory at Anglesea Road.

Galwegians 12 Cork Constitution 11: Galwegians celebrated a return to Ireland’s top flight on Saturday with a narrow victory over Cork Constitution on the opening weekend of the Ulster Bank League.

Today

Over and over again and again, Galwegians sang their club anthem ‘The Blues are we’ and danced and celebrated long into Saturday night in Galway after their nerve wracking Ulster Bank AIL victory over Garryowen at Crowley Park.

University College Dublin won a thrilling Ulster Bank League Division 1A clash with leaders Lansdowne at Belfield on Saturday to maintain their challenge to finish in the top four.

(2.30pm unless stated)

Stephen O’Neill’s first-half try was the difference at Lakelands Park as Terenure College’s dream start continued in Division 1A with a 14-9 win over champions Clontarf.

Cork Constitution enjoyed their first league success as tries from Rob Jermyn and Tomás Quinlan saw them beat Ballynahinch 23-16 at Temple Hill.

At the end of an absorbing Ulster Bank League tie in Castle Avenue last November, Clontarf coach Andrew Wood warned of the problems his side would face in a rematch with Young Munster at Clifford Park.

Rugby fans will be spoilt for choice tonight as the Ulster Bank League keeps up its cracking early-season pace with a number of mouthwatering ties set for Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

Clontarf celebrated after an Ulster League bonus point victory over Blackrock College on Friday pushed up their points tally to 50 and helped them stretch their advantage over St Mary’s College and Young Munster, but there’s a massive title battle ahead.

Bruff turned in a workmanlike performance when beating Ballynahinch 13-8 at Kilballyowen Park today, and they came from behind to do so.

DOLPHIN coach Steve Ford knew his side were out of the running for the Ulster Bank League title but knew they could have a say in the destination of the silverware in Division 1A.

Ninth-placed Bruff enjoyed an impressive 27-10 win over UCD at Kilballyowen Park after they made a splendid start.

Ballynahinch are the new leaders of Ulster Bank League Division 1B having come from behind to grab a share of the spoils with UCD this afternoon.

Ballymena took the spoils in a hotly-contested Ulster derby at Eaton Park, holding on to beat Ballynahinch 6-3 and leapfrog them at the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1B.

The two leading clubs in Division 1B played out a keenly-contested top-of-the-table clash at Dubarry Park where Buccaneers prevailed on a 24-17 scoreline.

Ballymena claimed the scalp of Bruff, who are always a formidable prospect at Kilballyowen Park, as John Andrews’ side moved up to fifth in the Division 1B table.

Ballymena took the spoils in a rain-hit Division 1B opener against UCC at the Mardyke where centre Alisdair Frazer scored the only try.

WITH Cork Constitution sealing a home draw and most likely top spot in Division 1A courtesy of a 22-0 win over St Mary’s College, there was an amazing sequence of results in Division 1B over the weekend.

Galwegians 21 Buccaneers 15 Crowley Park

Galwegians 21 Buccaneers 15

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: HALF-TIME SCORES:

Galwegians 13 UCC 6

UL Bohemians 12 Clontarf 16

Galwegians 11 Bruff 22

Galwegians 17 Ballymena 16

Galwegians 15 Ballynahinch 12

AIB LEAGUE: HALF-TIME SCORES

Galwegians 12 Buccaneers 11

UCC 19 Galwegians 13, The Mardyke

MUNSTER prop, Stephen Archer, notched the all-important try for Cork Constitution as they overcame Division 1A pacesetters, St Mary’s College, 16-9 in a closely-fought AIB League tie at Temple Hill.

GALWEGIANS 9 YOUNG MUNSTER 16

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 1B:

Galwegians 11 UCC 19

AIB LEAGUE RESULTS:

AIB LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:

Galwegians 15 Dungannon 13

AIB LEAGUE: HALF-TIME SCORES -

Galwegians 13 Clontarf 25, Crowley Park

GALWEGIANS 22 BALLYNAHINCH 26

Galwegians 9 Shannon 18