DLSP fail to find form

Two teams who lost their opening games met at Castle Avenue on Saturday, and Clontarf coach Phil Weirahiko recorded victory over his former club in a disappointing contest.

In his place, DLSP have recruited Adrian Skeggs, formerly of Worcester, and their player inventory looked impressive on paper.

In the absence of departed players Shane Stephens, Declan O'Brien and Connacht lock Rowan Frost, DLSP have done most of their shopping outside of these shores for players.

Jason Critchley, their Welsh rugby league centre, has returned from France where he played with Daks, while flanker Seβn McCarthy has been capped for the Australian schools.

But it was Jacques Deen, their towering number eight, who impressed most and presented Clontarf with their sternest test.

The Natal back row was a constant menace, and his charge-down in the 14th minute as Clontarf attempted to clear their line presented DLSP with their only try when he raced clear to make the touchdown.

A penalty from Simon Broughton made up the remaining three points, but the visitors will have been disappointed not to have made use of an extra man after Clontarf second row Andy Wood was sin binned towards the end of the half.

Centre Damien McCabe had been given the chance to put the visitors ahead as a result of Woods indiscretion but fluffed a chance in front of the posts, and though Broughton took over, they still trailed Clontarf 12-8 at the interval. To add to DLSP's woes they had hooker, Aran David yellow carded before half-time.

Clontarf's points had come from four penalties from outhalf Jimmy Demspey, and three minutes into the second half he scored under the posts after former Irish full-back Kevin Nowlan had cleverly switched the play inside the DLSP 22.

Dempsey converted, but it wasn't until the end that Clontarf made the game safe with Ollie Winchester and Dave O'Brien crossing the line

CLONTARF: K Nowlan; A Reddan, D O'Brien, J Downey, O Winchester; J Dempsey, R Westaway; W O'Kelly, T Foucher, A Clarke, D Sheehan, A Wood, D Quinn, A Cullen, B Gissing. Replacements: R O'Reilly for Westaway (41 mins), M Kennedy for Foucher (41 mins), A Dignam for Wood (50 mins), D Rossi for Downey (55 mins), T Kiernan for Reddan (65 mins).

DLSP: E Devitt; M McGuinness, J Critchley, D McCabe, M Viorneau; S Broughton, M Cross; C Condron, A Davis, D Masters, P McDonnell, R Candlin, S Tynan, S McCarthy, J Deen. Replacements: A Togher for Tynan (70 mins), S Kavanagh for McDonnell (75 mins).

Referee: J Sheehan (MRA)