Dungannon keep their focus for bonus point

All-Ireland League: The result had become such a foregone conclusion by the last quarter that most people had retreated to the clubhouse to see the All Blacks' haka. Dungannon kept their focus as they knew a bonus point was theirs for the taking. With 10 minutes remaining right wing Ralph Mercer delivered after capitalising on the umpteenth handling error from a Blackrock player trying to attack from deep.

But chief architect in the 36-23 victory was outhalf Gareth Steenson. The most bewildering aspect of Steenson's consistent availability at club level is his former Irish under-21 coach is now in charge of Ulster. Mark McCall will surely give him an opportunity at provincial level in the coming months.

Steenson kicked four penalties and two conversions (the two misses were touchliners that drifted marginally wide) but it was his second-half try that saw the timid Blackrock resistance disintegrate. Scandalous defending saw the lightweight number 10 brush through four head-on tackles to go under the sticks.

A delicate chip to the corner for Oisín Hennessy's try was the highlight of his performance. The result keeps Jeremy Davidson's side in touch with the big three, who all won again, as they go into the break sandwiched between Clontarf and Belfast Harlequins.

Clontarf picked up a fifth bonus point of the season with a four-try display against Ballymena at Castle Avenue. The result makes it official: Ballymena are a club in crisis as the only pointless team in the league. Although the Ulster fringe players have clearly not been performing for Steph Nel, it's still hard to see relegation become a reality.

Having already won "up North", Lansdowne understandably fancied their chances in Belfast but the sight of Harlequins coach Andy Ward at openside put paid to this notion as his forwards ground out victory at the Grafton Arena. Reece Spee crossed for a try while Michael Glancy continued to kick the important goals.

There were two derby matches over the weekend; St Mary's got their season firmly on track with a 22-19 victory away to UCD, while in Limerick Shannon coasted past neighbours UL-Bohemians with a bonus point that keeps them clear of Garryowen and Cork Con.

Dublin University were level with Garryowen at the break in Dooradoyle but five second-half tries removed even a hint of a surprise.

It was less straightforward for Cork Con, who had to contend with the ever-stubborn Buccaneers in maintaining their 100 per cent record. Interestingly, Buccaneers organised the transport of their Connacht reserves, David Gannon and Conor O'Loughlin, back from Glasgow. Both made second-half cameos in the 13-6 defeat.

Action resumes on December 3rd, the tie of the round being Dungannon against Shannon at Stevenson Park.

How they stand

P W D L F A Tr B Pts

Shannon 4 4 0 0 115 31 13 2 18

Cork Con 4 4 0 0 87 52 11 1 17

Clontarf 4 2 0 2 92 67 13 5 13

Dungannon 4 3 0 1 81 73 6 1 13

Garryowen 3 3 0 0 53 19 7 0 12

Blackrock 4 2 1 1 79 81 8 0 10

Buccaneers 4 2 0 2 67 52 3 1 9

Lansdowne 3 2 0 1 58 48 4 0 8

Bel Harl'quins 3 2 0 1 54 57 3 0 8

St Mary's 4 2 0 2 59 84 8 0 8

UL Bohs 4 1 1 2 73 104 9 2 8

UCD 4 1 0 3 77 79 10 3 7

Galwegians 4 1 0 3 38 62 3 1 5

Dublin Univ 3 0 0 3 45 74 3 1 1

County Carlow 4 0 0 4 64 105 7 1 1

Ballymena 3 0 0 3 42 81 4 0 0