Shannon know-how too much for visiting students

All-Ireland League: There may only have been three games in the AIL League Division One this weekend but the results ensured the return of a familiar look to the table this Monday morning.

The students finally fell off the pace as old reliables Shannon, Garryowen and table toppers Clontarf put a chink of light between themselves and the other play-off pretenders.

If UCD managed to continue their unbeaten run and Dublin University kept the College Park winning streak going, tongues would be wagging about the huge benefits of the scholarship scheme for the third tier of Irish rugby.

Instead, Shannon trounced UCD at Thomond Park, scoring six tries in the process, with David Delaney converting four and Alan Thompson the other two in the 42-13 victory.

What will really rankle with the students though is that they led 13-0 just before the break thanks to a try from Leinster's third choice scrum-half Brian O'Riordan and two penalties from Eoghan Hickey.

Defeat should only be seen as a slight aberration, better sides have left the old ground on the back of worse hidings, as they are still fifth and level on points with fourth- placed Belfast Harlequins.

Clontarf edged out Trinity thanks to a late penalty from Dan van Zyl, after the former Carlow player/coach also stepped into absent coach Phil Werahiko's shoes.

When Dave McAllister was forced off with a hamstring injury, van Zyl came off the bench and into the unfamiliar outhalf slot to add to a pair of earlier penalties from the former Terenure schoolboy and to a Donovan Rossi try that ended an impressive home record for the new boys in Division One.

Elsewhere, the Limerick faction continued to dominate the play-off spots with Garryowen overcoming Ballymena 32-23 at Dooradoyle, ending a two-game losing run.

Three second-half tries left new Ballymena coach Steph Nel with a massive job. Returning Connacht flanker Paul Neville crossed for the vital fourth try late on, which denied the Ulster men a bonus point and left Garryowen third in the table.