In-form Ballynahinch stayed top of Division 1A after banking their fifth consecutive victory, though this time, it took an injury-time score to finish 24-19 ahead of visiting UCD.
Hinch led 19-7 following first-half tries by Ethan Graham and Claytan Milligan before the latter then claimed his second after the interval, but the Students fought back to tie the scores with time almost up.
With the clock in the red, George Pringle saved the day for Hinch, with his touchdown also allowing the hosts to collect five points.
City of Armagh’s good away form continued for their trip to Young Munster as they won 31-24 and picked up the maximum return for their efforts. Armagh, who stay seventh despite their victory, were never behind in the game and led 17-12 when the teams changed ends.
Kyle Faloon kicked all four conversions and a penalty, with Johnny Morton, Dylan Nelson, Paul Mullen and Sam Cunningham getting over for their scores.
In 1B, struggling Queen’s University suffered yet another defeat, this time at home to leaders Old Belvedere who were victors by 43-24.
Lorcan McLoughlin, Henry Walker and Cameron Florence scored the ninth-placed Students’ tries, with Jack Murphy slotting all three conversions and a penalty.
Instonians hammer Barnhall to maintain flying pace as Dungannon inch past Galwegians
Glen Faloon claimed a hat-trick of tries for Instonians, who stayed second in 2A after their 61-29 drubbing of Barnhall at Shaws Bridge.
Paul Pritchard’s squad crossed their opponents’ line nine times in all, Bradley McNamara, Ruairi O’Farrell, Bev Prinsloo, Neil Saulters, Andrew McGrath and Marty Vorster accounting for their other touchdowns. Josh Eagleson converted eight tries for a haul of 16 points.
Banbridge won 31-14 on the road at Navan but stayed in sixth spot, and Ballymena remained eighth after losing 29-24 at Old Crescent.
A brace of tries from Michael McLean, supplemented by three conversions, a penalty and a try from Callum Patterson, allowed the Braidmen to collect a losing bonus point.
In 2B, it took a late Kyle Gormley try and conversion from Toby Gribben to allow second-placed Dungannon to beat Galwegians by the narrowest of margins, winning 28-27 at Stevenson Park.
Gannon had looked in deep trouble when trailing 24-7 – Gormley having opened their account – but a converted touchdown by James McMahon and a penalty try brought the Tyrone team in range of turning things around, which they managed, and they took away five points from this close shave.
Rainey were at Skerries but agonisingly lost their chance of a bonus-point triumph when an injury-time penalty ensured the home side won 24-22.
Killeen Thornton, Ryan Davies, Daniel O’Neill and Ross McLaughlin scored Rainey’s tries as the two points earned still saw them slip a place to seventh as they traded places with Malone, who again won, this time by 30-21 at home to UL Bohemians.
Clogher Valley won 12-7 at Sligo and moved up to fourth.
Belfast Harlequins bounce back from behind to stun Monkstown in Division 2C
There was drama at Monkstown where Belfast Harlequins battled back from being 29-14 behind to win 38-36.
Quins scored five tries, Mark Glover crossing twice and Adam Bennett, Thomas Quigley and Thomas Armstrong collecting the remainder, while Ben Power slotted all the conversions and kicked a penalty as the Deramore club rose to second.
Ballyclare slipped two places to fourth after losing 28-27 at former leaders Dolphin where Joel McBride scored two of the visitors’ four tries.
Omagh were comprehensively beaten 41-7 when hosting pacesetters Midleton.