The league status of both teams was reflected in this Leinster Senior Cup, second round tie at Merrion Road last night. The difference in physical strength between the two back rows gave Clontarf a very strong platform as the forwards created two early penalties for scrum-half Ritchie Murphy to convert.

Right wing Darragh McElligott went over in the right corner to stretch Clontarf's lead before Murphy scored his third penalty after 24 minutes.

It was uphill for Wanderers after that but centre Colm Leahy and replacement Mark O'Brien managed to score a try each. Out-half Lionel Mahon converted the latter.

Thereafter Clontarf played more sensibly. Blindside flanker Declan O'Brien made it to the line just before half-time for a converted try and number eight Craig Brownlee added another after the 61 minutes.

Scorers: Clontarf 26 - D McElligott, D O`Brien and C Brownlee try each; R Murphy 3 penalties, conversion. Wanderers 12 - C Leahy and M O'Brien try each; L Mahon conversion.

Clontarf: M Smith; D McElligott, D Rossii, C Bewley, O Winchester; M Woods, R Murphy; H Hurley, B Jackman, T Kearns, C Power, D Moore, D O'Brien, P Ward, C Brownlee. Replacements: R Vorster for Power and A McClean for Smith, both 61 mins.

Wanderers: P Devitch; D O'Sullivan, N Osborne, C Leahy, D Finnegan; L Mahon, M Mahon; P Meyler, B Cantrell, A Roberts, K McDonald, J O'Callaghan, E Delreux, C Jannick B Baggott. Replacements: M O'Brien for Jannick 10 mins; S Hoffman for Delreux 43 mins; P Gleeson for Leahy 44 mins; E Hoffman for Meyler 58 mins; T Magee for McDonald 65 mins; B O'Rourke for M Mahon 78 mins.

Referee: C Byrne (Leinster).