Clontarf fall to another defeat

Advantage Old Belvedere in the race for Ulster Bank League supremacy

Lansdowne 34 Clontarf 27 

It is advantage Old Belvedere in the race for Ulster Bank League supremacy, as Clontarf fell to their second defeat in succession on the Aviva Stadium’s main pitch last night.

A brace of penalties from outhalf David Joyce edged ’Tarf into the ascendancy during the first-quarter, but the defending champions opened up an 18-point cushion (24-6) courtesy of converted tries by Peter Dooley, Adam Boland and centre Mark Roche.

A stoppage-time Conor O’Keefe five-pointer did offer Andy Wood’s charges a much-needed boost upon the resumption, though, and when pacey winger Max McFarland crossed with 13 minutes left, momentum appeared to be with the visitors.

But a beautifully chipped pass by outhalf Scott Deasy provided the platform for Foster Horan’s defining try.

Lansdowne : C Aherne; I Fitzpatrick, M Roche, T Daly, F Horan; S Deasy, D Henry; P Dooley, T Moran, A Boland; W Earl, S Gardiner; C Ross, C Butterworth, B Moylett. Replacements : S Delahunt, I Prendiville, R Jones, I Burke, T Farrell.

Clontarf: D Fitzpatrick; M McGrath, E Ryan, K Lett, M McFarland; D Joyce, S Cronin; I Hirst, B Byrne, K Donoghue; B Reilly, C O’Keefe; K Moran, L Murphy, A Ryan. Replacements: C O’Flynn, T Byrne, D Hegarty, P Du Toit, T McCoy.

Referee : A Rolland (IRFU).