Cork Constitution let their devastating rolling maul do the talking at Templeville Road on Saturday as they moved from third to first in the AIB League's Division One table.
Con picked up a 24-13 win over St. Mary's College with tries from hooker Robert Quinn (2), flanker Brendan Cuttriss and prop Timmy Ryan doing the damage.
It was the proverbial game of two halves in trying conditions in the capital as Brian Walsh's visitors came back from an early 10-0 deficit. Mary's winger Keith Douglas scooted in for an early converted try, topping off a Jonathan Sexton penalty.
But the Dubliners got a glimpse of what lay ahead in the second half when 'Ducky' Quinn was mauled in for a 35th-minute Con try. Darragh Lyons converted to shore up the gap to 10-7 at the break.
Sexton kicked a penalty to extend Mary's lead, and although they then lost James Norton to a yellow card - the former Leinster winger was seen throwing a punch - it was up front where the hosts looked at a disadvantage.
Quinn bulldozed through for his second try soon after, with Lyons cracking the conversion off the post, and Con clinically closed out a bonus point win with injury-time efforts from Cuttriss and Ryan.
At Lakelands Park, Terenure College were left cursing their luck as they slipped to a 27-13 defeat to Shannon, allowing the defending champions in for three late tries.
Playing with the wind in the first half, 'Nure broke into a 13-3 lead with experienced hooker James Blaney, playing against his old team-mates, crashing through for his second try in as many games.
The home side still held a 13-6 lead by the 76th-minute, but Shannon almost effortlessly took control. Mossie Lawlor rampaged up the left wing, ducking out of three tackles to touch down, and in injury-time, Limerick Gaelic footballer Stephen Kelly bagged two impressive scores.
Kelly raced onto a chip through from replacement Andrew Thompson for his first, and the winger won the race to his own kick ahead for his third try of the league campaign.
...Shannon speed merchant Stephen Kelly...
A 79th-minute try from inspirational back rower David Kelly saw Buccaneers come from behind to grab an 18-18 draw with arch rivals Galwegians at Crowley Park. Although 13-point hero Tom Cregan did miss the match-winning conversion, striking it off an upright.
Tries from pack heavyweights Chris Henry, Stephen Douglas and Ian Caldwell saw Ballymena secure only their second win in their last six league games - a 19-12 victory over Dolpain - at Eaton Park.
Clontarf maintained their push for the play-offs as a four-try 27-16 win over bottom side Belfast Harlequins took them up to fourth in the standings. Lock John Duffy scored his second try in the space of a week at Deramore Park.
Elsewhere, an injury-time penalty from Munster's Eoghan Hickey saw Garryowen pip Lansdowne 16-15 at Dooradoyle. Argentinian centre Federico Quaglia touched down for Paul Cunningham's in the first half with flanker Niall Ronan and full-back Robbie Dolan off the mark for Lansdowne.
Blackrock College powered to a 29-21 success over UCD, claiming the Jerry Fogarty Cup in the process - four second half tries did the trick with Leinster's Des Dillon bagging one. At Thomond Park, Willie Anderson's son Thomas notched one of Dungannon's three tries in their 22-21 defeat of UL Bohemians.
DIVISION ONE - SATURDAY'S RESULTS:
Ballymena 19 Dolphin 12, Eaton Park
Belfast Harlequins 16 Clontarf 27, Deramore Park
Galwegians 18 Buccaneers 18, Crowley Park
Garryowen 16 Lansdowne 15, Dooradoyle
St. Mary's College 13 Cork Constitution 24, Templeville Road
Terenure College 13 Shannon 27, Lakelands
UL Bohemians 21 Dungannon 22, Thomond Park
UCD 21 Blackrock College 29, Belfield
