Unbeaten Old Belvedere continue upward curve

OLD BELVEDERE’S resurgence continues apace after they beat Dolphin 16-11 to chalk up their third straight win of the All-Ireland League season at Anglesea Road on Saturday.

Second-half tries from winger Eddie Devitt and scrum-half Ruairi Cushion did the damage, though Dolphin fly-half Barry Keeshan secured a bonus point for his side with an injury-time penalty.

Blackrock College surged to the top of Division One thanks to a five-try, 28-3 spanking of Terenure College, with David Rowan helping himself to a hat-trick.

Clontarf joined ‘Rock and ‘Belvo as the only teams with 100% records as Michael Keating took his tally to four tries in two games in a 30-19 success at the expense of St Mary’s, with Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien also claiming a brace.

Aidan McNulty’s two penalties edged UL Bohemians past Buccaneers 9-8 in an awful game at Dubarry Park, while Galwegians outgunned Ballymena by three tries to one to record a 19-5 success and Neil Patterson’s 62nd-minute try gave Dungannon a nervy 15-13 win at home to UCD.

Clonakilty were the sole Munster side to record a win in Division Two, claiming a bonus point in a 25-7 win at home to Instonians.

UCC’s promotion ambitions took a knock when they suffered a shock 17-16 defeat at the hands of Old Crescent, while Belfast Harlequins eked out a 7-6 success at Bruff.

Highfield’s woes continued as they were seen off 32-8 by DLSP, while Malone came away from Limerick with a 16-13 win over Thomond.

It was a bad day for the sides who dropped from Division One last term, with Lansdowne now five points off the pace already after a 22-20 loss at Bective Rangers, while Dublin University notched a remarkable 27-23 win at Greystones.

Ballynahinch moved top after destroying Wanderers 46-6 at Merrion Road.

Queens’s University became the first side in the AIL to break the 100-point total this season as they routed sorry Waterpark 59-7 in Division Three.

But it’s Portadown and Corinthians who lead the way after wins over Barnhall and Rainey Old Boys respectively.

Midelton were brought crashing back to earth after last weekend’s runaway victory at Rainey when they lost 21-17 at home to Old Wesley, while Sunday’s Well endured a miserable afternoon up north as they were beaten 23-0 by Banbridge.

* Munster U19 Schools were dealt a surprising defeat by their Ulster counterparts in their final interprovincial game yesterday, going down 17-6. The U18 side fared better, notching a 17-3 win thanks to a try from Jurgen Quinlan and four Ben Sargent penalties.