AN impressive St Columba's College overran St Patrick's, Navan, at Belvedere College yesterday to record a comfortable victory that must make them serious contenders for ultimate success.

Ben Deacon turned in a superb performance for the Whitechurch side, getting three of their four tries, a conversion and a penalty. St Columba's dominated from the start, although St Patrick's scored first through a Brian McCormack penalty in the third minute.

However, after a spell of sustained pressure, Deacon kicked over a penalty in the 30th minute and scored a try under the posts a minute later to put his side 8-3 ahead at the interval.

Sustained pressure after the restart was rewarded when Deacon made it to the line to record his second try. David Sheehy then made an unstoppable run to the line to extend the lead further and Deacon sent the conversion straight between the posts. Deacon sealed victory with his final try three minutes from time.