Lansdowne sitting pretty after win over Garryowen

There are hurdles to be jumped, but Lansdowne now look ever more likely to clinch the Ulster Bank Division 1A title after their successful negotiation of a tricky encounter against Garryowen at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Lansdowne scored five tries to secure a fine bonus point victory, and it allowed them to build up a 10-point lead at the top of the table.

With Garryowen set adrift following this double win over the Limerick side, it’s not all going to be plain sailing for Lansdowne, however. Young Munster have a match in hand and if the black and ambers pull off a victory when the teams meet on March 2 and follow that up with a win in the postponed game against Dolphin, then it could be all to play for again.

In games to come, Clontarf provide a difficult challenge for Young Munster and Cork Constitution could also have a say when they entertain the leaders. But things are closing in for the challengers, who desperately need others to help them against an increasingly menacing and high quality Lansdowne.

At the other end of the table it’s not looking good for Shannon, the club that embraced this competition as their own over so many seasons. Their loss to Clontarf, coupled with UL Bohemian’s win over Old Belvedere, has heaped further pressure on the ex-champions’ survival bid.

Meanwhile, Division 1B leaders Ballynahinch saw their lead at the top cut to four points. That followed a combination of their home defeat by UCD and the win by Dublin University over Ballymena at Eaton Park.

It wasn’t a good day either for Dungannon, who lost at home to Buccaneers, and the only good news for Ulster clubs in this division was Malone’s hard fought victory over Bruff at Kilballyowen Park, which will have earned their lower placed northern colleagues a bit of respite in the battle against relegation.

Down the line, Terenure and UCC lost ground in division 2A and Corinthians now head the table after a 21-15 home win over the Dublin side. It’s as you were at the top of Division 2B for the most part, although Nenagh Ormond moved up to fourth courtesy of a 20-3 win over Sunday’s Well in Cork.