Clontarf carry on

PEOPLE ARE beginning to realise now that the Clontarf you saw in the Leinster League is the Clontarf you get in the AIL - a pretty useful side.

Clontarf, who lost out narrowly to St Mary's, the eventual winners of that competition, at the semi-final stage, recorded an away win over Malone, thanks in the main to the determination of Karl Hoffman.

A fine backrow move put Hoffman clear 10 minutes into the second half and the fullback was heading for the line when he felt his hamstring pull five yards out. However he managed to run on, and that score, his final contribution of the match, gave Clontarf an 8-3 lead. After that they never looked back.

The only other teams in the division with a loo per cent record are Sunday's Well and Bective, the latter heading the table on points difference after their 47-18 win over NIFC at Donnybrook.

Two first half tries from Stewart Wilson, who was making his debut at outhalf for Bective, put the home team on their way.

North were leading 6-3 when Wilson blocked down his opposite number Niall Lamont to score his first try. Then just before half-time he beat North's centre John Park in the race to the touchdown to give his side a 15-6 interval lead. North never recovered from that double blow and another brace from right wing Tony Gillen put the matter beyond any doubt.

Sunday's Well proved far too strong for Skerries at Musgrave Park. The home side, who led 16-3 at half-time, were always in command, but they refused to ease up and winger Brian Roche went on to score two tries in the second half.

Greystones who got their campaign off to such an impressive start at Dr. Hickey Park last week, discovered at Lansdowne Road that a week can be a long time in rugby.

In the first half consistency was the key. Greystones forwards consistently infringed at the rucks, and Wanderers outhalf Owen Cobbe, a recent acquisition from London Irish, consistently kicked the penalties, five in all.

Wanderers were content to play territorial rugby in the second half and though Greystones cut the deficit to 15-11 through a Richie Murphy penalty 15 minutes into the second half, they were unable to break down Wanderers defence.

Joining Wanderers on three points are Monkstown and Dolphin who both recorded away wins.

Monkstown left it late in the day but tries from winger Barry Guiney and flanker Hugh McGuire gave them a 21-14 lead. An injury time try by fullback Ian Orr, his second, gave Derry hope but outhalf Ian McGregor failed with the difficult conversion attempt.

UCC won the first Cork derby of the season when they proved too strong for Highfield.