Wanderers move into league contention

Six tries from Wanderers with out-half Eric Olazabal collecting 18 points from two penalties and six conversions put paid to …

Six tries from Wanderers with out-half Eric Olazabal collecting 18 points from two penalties and six conversions put paid to any ideas Greystones had of hitching themselves into the top four of division two.

Working from a 24-9 lead at half-time Wanderers went on to score three more tries to complete the Greystones rout, finally winning 48-9. The points now send Wanderers into third place with Greystones sitting in mid-table.

In Belfast a try from Ulster second row Murtagh Rea gave Malone victory over Old Wesley at Gibson Park. Rea, who has not played since Ulster's game against Munster in October, came on as a replacement and quickly added drive to the previous flat performance. His try seven minutes from time all but finished off Old Wesley in the disappointing tussle, which the home side won 22-11.

The win moves Malone to the top of the league who have not yet lost a match. Old Wesley continue to struggle with just one win from six matches.

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DLSP, also in the hunt for honours, continued to keep pace with a narrow victory over Skerries. In a mistake strewn match a try and a penalty for DLSP outscored Skerries' try and conversion for an 8-7 win.

Dave O'Riordan began with a three-point kick for DLSP but a converted penalty try then sent Skerries ahead before Shane Stephens touched down close to the break for the match winning score.

UCC's try in injury time gave them a share of the points against Bective in Donnybrook, the match finishing 19-19. The final try from Brian O'Mahony came when he picked up after the ball bounced off fullback Damien Guerin's chest and two UCC players.

Bective subsequently had a try disallowed for a knock on adding further disappointment in a match they could so easily have won.

In another top table fixture, Dungannon fielding their strongest team since the beginning of the season because of injury and Ulster assignments, took some time to get going before beating Sunday's Well 11-18.

Ireland out-half David Humphreys landed two penalties and a conversion following tries from Stephen Bell and Jarrod Heeney in a tight match in which Willie Anderson's side trailed 6-3 at the interval.

Two second half scrums subsequently yielded match winning tries for Dungannon.

Two other Ulster sides, Portadown and City of Derry had convincing wins over Dolphin and Old Belvedere respectively. Outhalf Ian McGregor landed four penalties and a drop goal for Derry in their 20-8 win, while Portadown outscored Dolphin with two tries, two penalties and a conversion to a converted try.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times