High-flying Lansdowne look to end Bohs’ hopes

The Ulster Bank League is now all about what Lansdowne do — or don’t do — in the remaining games.

If they keep winning or pick up losing bonus points, their lead at the top, is such that nobody should catch them.

It has been a remarkable campaign for the Dublin 4 club who can expect to beat UL Bohemian in Limerick today and pick up a bonus point. That would all but finish off the unlikeliest of challengers at this stage.

Today’s clash between Clontarf (second) and Dolphin (fourth) at Castle Avenue does retain interest but it’s probably not going to mean much in the overall scheme of things.

However it gives Dolphin an opportunity for Cork bragging rights as a victory would mean they finish ahead of their great rivals, Cork Constitution, the club that has constantly kept them in the shade and forced them to play second fiddle in virtually every competition in over a century of rugby in the city.

Cork Constitution have fallen from grace a bit and now seek to see off Old Belvedere at Temple Hill. In terms of achievement this last couple of decades, Con shouldn’t even be involved in a dogfight for positions against the Dublin outfit.

Dolphin, for their part, have actually been extremely unlucky in losing games and bonus points that might well have kept them much closer to the action going into this weekend.

Belvedere will be looking to build on their surprise 15-12 home victory over Garryowen last weekend.

Crucially, the win has moved them ahead of Shannon again up to third last in the table and the former league kings have to wait longer because their game against St Mary’s College has been cancelled.