Lansdowne last out in nine-try thriller

Lansdowne 33 Clontarf 31: Lansdowne roared back to the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1A with a confidence-boosting 33-31 bonus point win over defending champions Clontarf last night.

In a sparkling nine-try thriller played on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch, Mike Ruddock’s men

bounced back from two recent defeats with a much-improved performance, especially in attack. They laid the foundations with three first half tries from forwards Joe McSwiney, Tadhg McElroy and Ireland Sevens international John O’Donnell.