Lansdowne dominate to win over Clontarf

Lansdowne 15 Clontarf 10, RDS

Clontarf scored the only try of this Dublin derby but it was Lansdowne who reigned supreme at the RDS Arena as they came from behind for a 15-10 win.

Leinster prop Cian Healy scored a try for Clontarf late in the first half as they turned around with a 10-6 lead.

But 'Tarf failed to score in the second half, allowing Lansdowne to take the spoils thanks to two penalties from full-back Robbie Dolan – his second a brilliant kick into a cross wind – and a late drop goal from replacement out-half Luke Cozens.

A poor crowd of 400 turned up at the RDS to watch two of the capital's top club teams go head to head. Clontarf recently beat today's hosts 26-6 in the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior League and under new coach Andy Wood, the north Dubliners were keen to continue where they left off in that match.

But Lansdowne battled well over the opening half-hour with a penalty from Dolan and a drop goal from Neil Walsh putting them 6-3 in front. Daragh O'Shea had kicked an early penalty for 'Tarf and the visitors succeeded in breaking the try deadlock just before the break.

It came from a forwards drive as young Healy, who recently broke into the Leinster team, burrowed over from close range with Lansdowne having centre Greg Stafford sin-binned in the immediate aftermath.

O'Shea converted the try to hand 'Tarf a 10-6 buffer to tak into the second half. The 14 men of Lansdowne managed to cut the gap to a single point just three minutes after the restart when Dolan hammered over a penalty.

Lansdowne, with their pack getting on top, forced a ruck infringement out of the visitors soon after and Dolan again obliged, using the wind to good effect from 35 metres out.

Now 12-10 in front and with 'Tarf's New Zealand flanker Chris Elvin seeing yellow, Stephen Rooney's charges saw out the win with Cozens bisecting the posts from close to the 22.

Scorers: Lansdowne: Pens: Robbie Dolan 3; Drops: Neil Walsh, Luke Cozens

Clontarf: Try: Cian Healy; Con: Daragh O’Shea; Pen: Daragh O’Shea

HT: Lansdowne 6 Clontarf 10