Dungannon still look good for promotion

A satisfying week for Dungannon coach Willie Anderson. A midweek win over contenders Malone in Stevenson Park and a 53-14 rout of Old Wesley in Donnybrook on Saturday confirmed that the Ulster side's tag of favourites for promotion has not been misplaced.

Nor has it been a millstone. After their eighth consecutive win, Dungannon lead the table on points difference and have two games in hand against DLSP, also on 18 points.

While Old Wesley, with several players under 21, will use youth as the mitigating factor in this defeat which leaves them fourth from the bottom, there was little doubt that Dungannon, without David Humphreys or Jonathan Bell, look like a side who may cause some surprises next year if they realise this year's ambition.

Also put to rest on Saturday were notions that Dungannon relied exclusively on their pack to grind out results. While the Ulster front three of Justin Fitzpatrick, Allen Clarke and Gary Leslie did much as they liked in the set scrums, Dugannon's well-serviced back line looked every bit as efficient as most sides in the higher division. That scrum-half Stephen Bell provided an endless supply of clean ball to Ashley Blair was clearly a factor in the free-flowing, if one-sided match, but Dungannon did use the ball regularly to bring their outside runners into play.

Blair's six conversions and two penalties topped off a fine performance from the out-half, while Bell's two tries, from a haul of seven, also insured his name stayed in the minds of selectors.

DLSP, however, continued to keep pace with a controlled win over City of Derry, while Malone, who foundered at home again, this time against Bective Rangers, watched their promotion hopes fall apart.

DLSP swept away the Ulster visitors, primarily in the second half, at Kilternan. Leading 10-3 at the break, with a try from scrum-half Brian Hogan and a penalty from out-half Mark McGuinness, Hogan then added another try to lead the way for wing Stephen Gormley and centre Mark Cunningham to claim scores in the clear-cut 27-8 win.

Bective's Warren Johnston, who kicked a penalty three minutes into injury time to add to three previous scores against Malone, secured the Ulster side's fourth successive defeat. Malone's only replies came from Neil Patterson with a penalty and drop goal.

At the other end of the table, Ballynahinch continued to plough their lonely furrow and have not yet tasted victory in nine matches; this time Wanderers heaped on the misery with a 44-21 win.

Above them, Skerries and Dolphin continue to live dangerously with just five points each, although Dolphin did themselves an enormous favour yesterday with a 8-5 win over Old Belvedere. Old Crescent were responsible for the Skerries disappointment in Rosbrien, even though they were out-scored three tries to two by the north Dublin side. Old Crescent full back Brian Begley separated the sides convincingly with eight penalties and a conversion.

Skerries only wilted to a stronger scrum in the second half after Dermot O'Sullivan, Chris Keane and Brian Higgins ran in their tries. The concession of penalties ultimately proved extremely expensive.

Greystones also moved closer to security in Division Two with a 25-19 win over UCC at Dr Hickey Park, after looking badly placed in the table just weeks ago. Eoin Costigan, with 15 points, was Greystones main scorer. They led 16-0 at the interval. Flanker Dan McGettigan and second row Shane Pender added tries to Costigan's kicking, while full back Colin Healy, prop Aidan McSweeny and Paul Barry ran in scores for UCC. The students are now mid table.