Bective knock the wind out of Dungannon sails

Bective Rangers knocked the wind out of Dungannon sails as the promotional favourites suffered only their second defeat of the season at Stevenson Park on Saturday. The 24-29 result served up a reminder to the powerful Ulster side that not everything is settled in the race for Division One status.

While Dungannon's hopes certainly suffered a setback, the defeat does not jeopardise their season as they continue to sit on top of the table with a game or two in hand over their closest rivals, DLSP and Wanderers.

Although Dungannon took up the running early in the match, they were then hit with two tries in as many minutes just before the break from Bective full back Bryn Cunningham.

The home side piled on the pressure, but could not not translate their efforts into points. Warren Johnston's penalty count of four finally nailed down the match in favour of Bective despite a Dungannon flourish following a try from full back Robin Morrow in the second half.

While DLSP were tripped up in their race for the top on Friday by Sunday's Well, Wanderers made sure the competition was kept lively with an important win over Portadown on the back pitch at Lansdowne Road.

The victory was orchestrated in the first half from the reliable boot of Eric Olazabal, who provided four penalties and two conversions in the 26-12 win, 13 points coming before the break. A try from Martin Ridge and prop Robert Cole helped copperfasten the victory for the Dublin side.

Further down the table, the once struggling Greystones as good as put paid to Old Crescent's chances of Division One status when they snatched their third win in succession at Rosbrien. The 17-20 score will probably also secure the Wicklow side's status for next year after they won the battle up front and demonstrated superior back play with full back Cormac Dowling and scrum-half Ian Sherwin running in tries before the break. A further try from Maurice Logue stretched Greystones's lead to 20-7, at which stage Crescent were well out of the match.

At Angelsea Road, Old Belvedere put their 10-try match against UCC beyond doubt in the first half when they went into the break 23 points ahead. Although the students rallied and brought the game back to within eight points during a surge in the final quarter, the home side held on to retain the points. The win ensures that Old Belvedere keep pace with the main contenders for promotion at the upper end of the table.

At the other end, Ballynahinch, who will certainly be relegated this year, offered Skerries a valuable two points at Holmpatrick.

While Skerries went behind to a Phillip Nelson penalty, three firsthalf tries from Brian Higgins, Tony Giles and Edward Carraher ensured that Skerries collected the win and the valuable two points.

Dolphin also continue to struggle and won't have been pleased with Skerries winning while they went under badly to City of Derry in a 43-9 rout at Judges Road. The visitors conceded five tries to no reply with out-half Ian McGregor landing four penalties and three conversions for a personal account of 18 points. Outhalf John O'Mahony's three penalties were the only inroads the Cork side could make in a disappointing performance.