Defeat cuts Derry's lead

Unbeaten Blackrock and Galwegians will have looked on the weekend's results as quite useful to their promotion drives - even though they did not play. Instead they watched as City of Derry, who still top the table, stumbled for the first time in five matches, against nearest rivals Old Crescent. Their three bonus points ensure the Ulster side keep some distance between themselves and the chasing pack.

Derry took and early 12-point lead in the game, running in two tries in the opening six minutes through Ian McGregor and James Moore, who scored from an interception.

Old Crescent clawed their way back, with full back Brian Begley kicking three penalties, and out-half Bill Treacy put them ahead just after the break when he went over to give Old Crescent a 12-14 advantage which they held until the end.

UCD, who are also contenders in the division, snatched a late win over Dolphin at Musgrave Park when captain Shane Moore burst through for an injury-time try to give the students a one-point win (22-21). Moore added to a try from Bobby Quigley and four penalties from Paddy Wallace, while Dolphin's two tries came from Barry Sheehan and Larry Buckley.

UCC were not as fortunate as their fellow students, going down 23-15 to Malone in Gibson Park. It was the Belfast side's first win of the season. They trailed by two points going into the last 10 minutes, but then Andy Bell chased down a punt forward for the decisive score. Neil Doak also contributed handsomely, with three penalties and two conversions.

Struggling Portadown, at the bottom of the table, needed something out of the weekend. But their match at Chamber's Park yielded nothing, with Bective instead handing them their fifth successive defeat. The struggling Ulster side, who lost 10-18, have only a bonus point to show for their efforts.

Portadown contrived to turn a 10-point lead into an eight-point defeat. Two tries from AJ Subherwal set up Portadown for what looked like their first win until Bryn Cunningham and Paul Hatton conjured tries to add to two penalties and a conversion from Craig Pierce.