After Garryowen, Blackrock College found life in the top flight of Irish rugby just that little easier at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

But, after threatening to steal the points, they found Dolphin unwilling to tamely surrender and the home side came storming back from a seven point deficit to earn a share of the spoils.

This time, they didn't do enough to win but they certainly deserved the draw and in the end Blackrock could have no real complaints. It was a point gained rather than lost.

Blackrock had twice to come from behind in the first half as Conor Mahony kicked Dolphin into the lead in the second and 18th minutes only for Alan McGowan to respond with penalties in the fifth and 30th minutes.

The visitors had the better of the third quarter and shot into the lead with the opening try of the game from prop Malcolm Cuffe which was converted by McGowan.

But after surviving further pressure, Dolphin found the necessary levels of energy as the game progressed and Denis O'Dowd put the finishing touches to a tapped penalty from Keith Murphy to get in at the posts and allow Mahony kick the simple conversion.