Rugby All-Ireland LeagueJohnny Watterson talks to coach Phil Werahiko about the Dublin northside club's outstanding season and their determination to take that last step

And into the rugby vacuum steps the AIB All-Ireland League. After its staccato-like lurch between larger competitions throughout the season, the next few weeks finally gives breadth and a platform to the grass roots competition.

Clontarf, this year's leading side in the league, refer on their website to a disparaging line they used to say about themselves - that their only victories "were to win the toss". While the club are at pains to point out that they've won nothing yet, Clontarf's imposing presence throughout the season, since defeat in their first match against Ballymena, has convinced many that the team that made last year's play-offs are now stronger and more confident.

Coach Phil Werahiko, bouncing nicely from DLSP's relegation season into the lap of willing Clontarf, remains cautiously optimistic. But it has been difficult to ignore Clontarf's enduring run and it was against this weekend's opponents, Buccaneers, that the Dublin side recorded their 11th consecutive league win, a handy 32-17, in March.

"When you arrive at a club, you like to think you can contribute," says Werahiko. "But definitely no one in Clontarf would have expected the turn-about. They just needed encouragement, belief, a little bit of everything. Respect for each other.

"I think the change in attitude in the team was significant. The commitment was there, but we had to get them thinking in the one direction. We asked them where do they want to go and what do they want to do personally."

With just four players involved in contracts, Clontarf have not been unhinged by their leading lights playing musical chairs between country, province and club. Captain Warren O'Kelly, Mike Walls, Ben Gissing and Donal Sheahan are contracted, but they have, for the most part, played with the club.

With the league's top try scorer, Bernard Jackman (12), and Daragh O'Shea, who is fifth in the kicking statistics with 135 points, Clontarf have been loath to rely heavily on one aspect of their game, although their pack is regarded as one of the best.

With hooker Jackman four tries up on last season's most prolific scorer, Blackrock's Gary Brown, the scrum isn't the only area of expertise of the former Sale Sharks' front row.

"Bernard is experienced. But experience without enthusiasm and commitment doesn't mean a lot," says Werahiko. "He has the ability to read the game and has been at the end of the chain on a lot of occasions.

"Daragh has worked harder on his kicking this year than ever before. Without a kicker you are crucified and it can take away from the confidence of the players."

Werahiko, with his Maori Sevens experience and having played provincial rugby with Bay of Plenty, also crossed codes to league. His original reason for landing in Ireland - for a bit of travel following a phone call from Murray Kidd in the early 1990s - has taken him to Waterpark, Enniscorthy and, for five seasons, DLSP.

"Rugby league defence has come in now. But I like to think of Clontarf as a team of footballers, and that it's not all down to the pack. Conditions dictate how you play in this country. Sides like Blackrock play a wide game in all conditions. It can look very good but cause a lot of trouble. You have to go through a season playing different patterns. Now the weather has improved, our game has expanded."

The side's record against Buccaneers is good. From seven games they've won five, drawn one and lost one. Of those, the four home matches have all been good for Clontarf. They are also the most prolific try scorers in all three league divisions with 60 since last October.

"At the start of the season we lost to Ballymena. I think we were complacent for that match. They did us a huge favour. They made us think.

"At the start of the season the team set out a target of a top four place. The guys were disappointed with last season, but the team realised they could compete at that level. Then in the top four we choked a little and on the day Shannon were the better side. They were never under pressure and we battled just to hang in there."

They've achieved that and more this season. No longer the team that won the toss.