Sixth placed, Naas were the visitors to The Dub on Saturday to play seventh placed Queens, in an AIL1B fixture. Both sides needed a win and for results to go their way if they were to make the Play Offs. A strong, cold diagonal wind blew across the pitch, initially in Queens favour. Naas kicked off and when Queens couldn’t clear their lines, camped in the Queens 22.

On Saturday afternoon, Dublin University were the visitors to The Dub to play Queens in an AIL1B fixture, which also doubled as a Dudley Cup Colours Match. Dublin played with a cool breeze in the 1st half. Queens early pressure produced dividends. Josh Stevens opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Ben McFarlane’s conversion put Queens 7-0 up. On 9 minutes Lukas Kenny crossed in the right corner for 12-0.

I stayed on at Shawsbridge for the 1st half of the Women’s AIL fixture between Cooke and Blackrock. Opening exchanges were tight. Cooke took the lead on 6 minutes, when Georgia Boyce squeezed over. Amanda Morton’s conversion put Cooke 7-0 up. Ella Durkin added 2 tries and 2 conversions for Blackrock Cooke defended robustly as Blackrock unleashed a series of forward drives.

On Saturday Galway Corinthians (2nd) made the long journey to Shawsbridge to face Instonians (1st) in a top of the table AIL2A clash. IMark Mairs did get the ball down to open the scoring for Inst Inst started at pace, and it was no surprise that they took the lead when Mark Mairs drove over from short range. Josh Eagleson’s conversion had Inst 7-0 up after 6 minutes.

On Saturday evening Ballincollig made the long trip up from Co Cork to play Cooke in a Women’s AIL fixture at Shawsbridge. It was a clear windless night after the previous day’s storms. I took in the 1st half. Ballincollig enjoyed early possession and took the lead in the 9th minute, when Katie O’Sullivan was driven over from a lineout maul for a 5-0 lead.

Our second match at Deramore Park on Saturday was the AIL 2C match between Belfast Harlequins and Tullamore. Tullamore applied the early pressure and they worked an early try, on the 12th minute, for fullback Liam Farrell. Conor Dunne added the extras for a 0 - 7 lead. Liam Farrell opened the scoring for Tullamore Ten minutes later, Dunne made a break and scored under the posts, converting the extras in order to give the visitors a healthy 0 - 14 lead.

On Saturday afternoon Instonians travelled to Dublin to play Lansdowne on the Aviva Stadium back pitch beneath the looming presence of the south stand, in the Bateman Cup Final. Following a yellow card to Ian Whitten, Donough Lawlor squeezed in for the opening try, converted by Stephen Madigan, with 4 minutes on the board to give Lansdowne a 7-0 lead.