Bective’s draw with UCC has effectively kept the title, promotion and playoff places wide open in Division Two of the AIB League. Only nine points separate UCC at the top and Buccaneers in eighth place.

All the teams in the top half of the table enjoyed a good weekend. Young Munster in second and Highfield in third enjoyed home wins over Wanderers and Dublin University respectively. Fourth placed Belfast Harlequins had a two point win away to Thomond while Malone had a single point victory over Ulster rivals Ballynahinch.

AIB League Division Two

Bective Rangers 20 – 20 U.C.C.

Clonakilty 29 – 0 Old Crescent

D.L.S.P. 39 – 10 Barnhall

Highfield 36 – 19 Dublin University

Malone 16 – 15 Ballynahinch

Suttonians 19 – 25 Buccaneers

Thomond 16 – 18 Belfast Harlequins

Young Munster 16 – 0 Wanderers

AIB League Division Three

Saturday, February 9 looks like being a crucial date in the Division Three calendar. While promotion and play-offs will keep the top four keen the league title looks set to come down to a winner takes all between Bruff and Instonians on that date.

Connemara gave Bruff one of their sternest tests to date and racked up 16 points – the most Bruff have conceded in a game this season – it was still not enough to break the winning streak of the table toppers.

Inst. enjoyed a 38 – 13 win over Sunday’s Well to leave them just three points adrift of the pace setters. Queens will still entertain hopes of a promotion spot as their win over City of Derry leaves them just five points behind Instonians, while Banbridge’s win over Old Wesley makes the top four playoff spots a certainty.

Banbridge 15 – 10 Old Wesley

Co. Carlow 10 – 6 Nenagh

Connemara 16 – 21 Bruff

Corinthians 22 – 20 Ards

Instonians 38 – 13 Sundays Well

Midleton 39 – 10 Rainey OB

Naas 26 – 6 Waterpark

Queens University 38 – 7 City of Derry