Everything to play for at both ends of the table

The AIB League first division gave the best possible response to the wranglings of the committee room with some enthralling matches over the weekend. With three rounds to go, every club has something to play for, mathematically at least, be it a play-off spot or survival. Realistically, the top six are all still in the hunt for honours.

Certain clubs believe the league continues to nurture the talent that is on the fringe of the provincial/professional set-ups and to dismantle it would be to the detriment of these players and ultimately Irish rugby. Another major complaint is the prolonged finish to the current league set-up - the last five rounds are spread over 10 weeks. Not the most conducive set-up for consistency.

Earlier this year, St Mary's coach Brent Pope said that, on a given day, any club could turn over another. It was the perceived beauty of the league. Well, it hasn't exactly worked out that way, until now that is. Round 12 of the season completely disregarded the form guide. Top clubs faltered and those at the bottom produced impressive victories.

Cork Constitution, the league's standard bearers, were outmuscled on their own patch by Buccaneers, the one side that looks capable of breaking the dominance Con and Shannon hold over Division One. Buccaneers will now be eyeing a home semi-final.

Next up they play Shannon in Thomond Park, a venue that lost some of its impregnability on Saturday when Ballymena came away with a 37-27 victory.

The Ulster men are now fifth, just a point behind Belfast Harlequins, who beat Co Carlow 24-13 on Saturday thanks to tries from Reece Spee (2) and centre Willem Slabbert.

The three-way race for the fourth play-off spot is still too close to call.

At the lower rungs of the ladder, Dungannon and Dolphin were dragged back into trouble after they both suffered defeats to their fellow relegation strugglers St Mary's and Galwegians.

St Mary's wiped the floor with Dungannon at Templeville Road, with Peter Smyth, Ronan Doherty and John Ryan crossing for tries in their 34-13 win.

Galwegians threw themselves the slimmest of lifelines, in turn restoring some much-needed pride, when they crushed Dolphin in Cork 20-3, for just their second victory of the year.

Finally, Clontarf's chances of making the last four were extinguished after a last-gasp conversion from Shane Whelan, of Jim O'Donovan's try, gave Lansdowne a one-point victory. It was even more remarkable when you consider they trailed 21-10 at the break. The win brings them to 17 points, three clear of the drop zone.