Table-toppers Metro and unbeaten South East came through in close matches with North East and Midlands, respectively. METRO 28-20 NORTH EAST Metro made it three wins out of four in a tight tussle, the bonus point ensuring they stay top of the table.It would have been even closer had North East managed to convert their chances from placed balls. Metro showed their confidence by moving into a lead in the fifth minute through a try by Sirio Scalabrino-Noone, converted by Byron O’Hara.

However, they did not cope with the restart, knocking the ball on. North East built enough phases from the scrum for excellent second row Sam Murray to score. The on-trend crossfield kick by out-half Enda Waldron was caught by right-wing Scalabrino, who put Adam Marnell over for O’Hara to put Metro up 14-5 in the 13th minute. The flow of scores was maintained by North East hooker Louis Staunton getting on the end of solid work by his forwards from a lineout. Metro number eight Eoghan Saunders, who was excellent throughout, drove over after a series of pick-and-jams for centre O’Hara to convert to give his side a 21-10 advantage at the interval.

The bonus point fourth try was taken in by Scalabrino-Noone for his double which was converted by the immaculate O’Hara. Murray’s partner Michael Cahalane, the captain, was on hand to deliver the second try for North East in one of many impressive touches. North East knew there was still the possibility of a bonus point in defeat, rallying well late on to produce the fourth try from number eight Isha Dharmasena in the last play of the game but they could not convert to close the gap beyond the seven-point threshold.

METRO: 15. Ryan Kilpatrick (Terenure College); 14. Sirio Scalabrino-Noone (Suttonians), 13. Alan Marnell (Seapoint), 12. Byron O’Hara (Terenure College), 11. Will Chambers (Suttonians); 10. Enda Waldron (St Mary’s College), 9. Archie Leach (Seapoint); 1. Jake Curran (Clontarf), 2. Cillian Wall (Westmanstown), 3. Finn McDonald (Clontarf), 4. Elliot Wright (Greystones), 5. Kealan Reilly (Bective Rangers), 6. Conor O’Toole (Lansdowne), 7. John McHenry (Lansdowne), 8 Eoghan Saunders (Terenure College).
Replacements: 16. Aidan Lanigan (MU Barnhall), 17. Sam Sommeraur (Lansdowne), 18. Tom Roberts (Clontarf), 19. Zach McBride (MU Barnhall), 20. Zach Saunders (DLSP).
Scorers: S Scalabrino-Noone 2 tries; A Marnell, E Saunders try each; B O’Hara 4 cons.

NORTH EAST: 15. Evan Lawless (Navan), 14. Leon Regan (Boyne), 13. Adam Keogh (Boyne), 12 Conor Kelly (Navan, Capt), 11. Lewis Bermingham (Ashbourne); 10. Robert Moran (Ashbourne), 9. Conor Martin (Navan); 1. Daithi Marmion (Dundalk), 2. Louis Staunton (Skerries), 3. Adam Kiernan (Navan), 4. Sam Murray (Navan), 5. Michael Calahane (Navan, Capt), 6. Jeff Mahon (Ashbourne), 7. JD Tattan (Skerries), 8. Isha Dharmasena (Navan). Replacements: 16. Gerr Bradley (Dundalk), 17. Adam O’Hagan (Dundalk), 18. Jack White (Ashbourne), 19. Sam O’Neill (Boyne), 20. Tadgh Tuckey (Balbriggan), 21. Dylan Woods (Skerries), 22. Conor Flanagan (Skerries), 23. Michael McDonnell (Skerries). Scorers: S Murray, M Calahane, L Staunton, I Dharmasena try each.

Photos and writeup courtesy Leinster Rugby. https://x.com/LeinsterBranch/status/1892635337198846000