Midleton will have taken some pride from Towns Park as they walked away with one of their biggest scalps to date, that of all conquering Co Carlow.
The Cork side defeated league leaders Co Carlow 12-10 in front of a crowd of around 2,000, enough to make many of the division one clubs envious. Carlow took the lead early with a well engineered try finished off by Paddy Buckley. A supreme forwards battle then ensued with the backs playing a supporting role.
However, Munster's Jason Holland muscled in on the act landing a penalty for 7-3 lead before adding a drop goal and a penalty after the break to put Midleton ahead for the first time in the game. Although Carlow responded with three points, Holland was again on target as Midleton swept to a most unlikely 12-10 win.
Old Belvedere, however, kept their promotion aspirations on course despite being held to a 19-19 draw by City of Derry. It is the only game in which the Dublin side have dropped points, Andy Dunne claiming a try, a conversion and four penalties.
Four tries from UCD kept the students well in contention, the bonus point allowing them to continue breathing down the neck of Old Belvedere. Their 34-12 win over Dolphin at Belfield was in stark contrast to their student colleagues in Cork.
UCC conceded the points at Thomond Park in a 22-9 defeat to UL Bohemians. Although UCC took the lead with two penalties from James O'Donnell, Bohemians had drawn level by the break through Ian Costello. Bohemians stretched their opponents in the second half with more penalties and a try from Gary Flanaghan to secure victory. Derry, Old Wesley and Dolphin continue to be the teams in deepest trouble, languishing at the bottom of the table with Malone and Wanderers not far off, each on between four and six points.
