'Tarf get win as students slip up

UCD 0 Clontarf 21

Clontarf finally managed a league win in 2004, and it was at the expense of Dublin rivals UCD as tries from Ben Wakely and Niall O’Brien coupled with a penalty try in the first half saw Phil Werahiko's side win out 21-0 at Belfield.

The south v north Dublin derby was tamed a little by the fact that neither College nor Clontarf, a place below their hosts in 10th, have been setting the rugby world alight of late, and this tie was scoreless for the first 32 minutes.

A scrum for ‘Tarf inside the UCD ’22 was shoved forward and scrum-half Wakely had the gas to pick and step inside UCD number 10 Stuart McCarron to sprint over for the opening try in the 31st minute.

Returning from injury, Dave McAllister kicked the conversion and tagged on the extras as UCD’s scrum collapsed under immense pressure on 35 minutes to go 14-0 down at the break.

This was a College side low on confidence following recent losses to Mary’s, Carlow and Blackrock, and having only scored three tries in their previous run of games, they offered little again in attack.

Former Ireland U21 McAllister put the result beyond doubt five minutes after the restart when he converted a silky run and score from Niall O’Brien, playing on the right wing, and there was very little to cheer about in the final 30 minutes of play.