ON a day when matters of critical importance were being decided elsewhere, and given the absence of a relegation dogfight, perhaps Old Belvedere and Blackrock might have entertained the crowd at Anglesea Road on Saturday. Instead, this Insurance Corporation Division One meeting spluttered into life only occasionally, and when it did, it was by and large the home side that was responsible.

Belvedere were slightly more inclined to trust themselves with ball in hand, and, in the end, this was vital.

In the seventh minute, Blackrock out half John McGowan kicked his side into the lead from a penalty. But then Belvedere centre Steve Tormey provided the penetration in a movement in midfield before slipping a reverse pass to partner Martin Ridge who was bundled into touch near the Blackrock line. Shane Byrne's misdirected throw in was gladly taken two handed by No 8 Kevin Spicer and he barged over for a try. Scrumhalf Barry Murphy's superb conversion had the home side 7-3 to the good.

Murphy stroked over a penalty on 40 minutes, but McGowan gave Blackrock a boost with his second penalty from 42 metres deep into injury time in the half.

After the break, flanker Max Doyle put Blackrock back in front when he broke free of a mass of bodies to surge to the line unopposed. Back came Old Belvedere to produce the best piece of rugby in the match. Out half Willie Norse passed to Tormey and looped around for the return. Norse then unhinged the Blackrock midfield by missing out Ridge at centre to find full back Peter McKenna steaming for the line. Murphy converted.

Neil Francis had a 72nd minute touchdown, and Murphy did the honours from the conversion. A late Alain Rolland try from close in merely served as a consolation for the losers.