Greystones keep their foothold on the top spot in 2B, while Dungannon, Wanderers and Sligo were big winners at the weekend, all gaining places in the league table.
Belfast Harlequins 10-15 Dungannon, Deramore Park
Dungannon leapfrogged their opponents into third spot in the table, after a five point winning margin gave them a fourth win of the season.
The hosts went into a 3-0 lead with a penalty after 20 minutes, but just after the half hour mark Dungannon hit back with an unconverted try to lead 5-3,a lead they took to the break.
Dungannon kept their shape and added a second try in the 46th minute, the conversion putting a gap between them, 12-3. Harlies were far from out of the tie and their own converted try set up a dramatic ending to the tie, pulling it back to 12-10, but in the end Dungannon did enough to prevail.
Galwegians 12-14 Greystones, Crowley Park
Greystones made it seven wins from seven, as they edged a tough contest with Galwegians at Crowley Park.
A game that will certainly give Wegians a positive outlook despite the result not going their way in the end, they gave the leaders a real scare level at the break 7-7 but are now 11 points behind 8th, they need to replicate their showing and get the win if they hope to stay up.
Malahide 20-26 Galway Corinthians, Estuary Road
Galway Corinthians continued their challenge for the league title with another impressive showing over Malahide, a late flurry seeing them edge a tightly contested affair.
Two converted tries had the visitors on top early for a 14-0 lead, back came the hosts and a converted Daniel Hayes try followed by a Dave O’Halloran penalty made it 14-10. A penalty try saw the hosts lead by three and the confidence looked to be with them.
Corinthians ended the game like they began, with two tries to stretch their lead once more in the tie, despite another penalty late on, Malahide would suffer defeat but take a losing bonus point for their troubles.
Rainey Old Boys 14-21 Wanderers, Hatrick Park
Wanderers climbed to fifth in the table after a late comeback saw them defeat Rainey Old Boys, on a blustery but not quite rainy day in Ulster.
The visitors took a 5-0 lead after 15 minutes as they looked to put a foot on the tie but a quick tap penalty in their own 22, saw Old Boys run the length of the field to make it 7-5 a short while after. Ben Mahon was composed rto score a penalty late in the half to give Wanderers an 8-7 lead at the interval.
Into the second half Mahon added another penalty after Rainey had a man sent to the bin, but they turned the game on its head after an intercept saw them get over for a 14-11 lead. Mahon would level the tie with a penalty as little could separate the teams.
Late on Wanderers got the final breakthrough, after kicking to the corner they managed to get over for their second try, the pivotal score in a dramatic afternoon in Magherafelt.
Sligo 17-10 Enniscorthy, Hamilton Park (Strandhill)
Sligo climbed to seventh after another successful showing over bottom placed Enniscorthy, inflicting further woe on the Wexford side their sixth defeat of the season.
The hosts started strong as Euan Brown kicked a penalty before converting Daire Byrne’s try for a 10-0 lead. Scorthy hit back with a penalty from Jack Kelly, however straight from the kick off Callum Goddard got over for the second Sligo try, as Brown made it 17-3 with another conversion. Niall Parker crossed for a late consolation converted try, as Sligo look to build some momentum in the coming weeks.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.