Instonians extend record-breaking winning run with 26th consecutive All-Ireland League bonus point victory over Dolphin

After winning all 18 games and the Division 2C championship last season, Paul Pritchard’s team have a prefect 40 points from eight games since stepping up to the fourth-tier and now sit top of the 2B table by five points.

It took Inst just five minutes to breach the Dolphin defence with loose forward Gary Dillon going over from the back of a scrum and Ruairi O’Farrell successfully converted.

David Whitten went over for the Shaw’s Bridge side second try, profiting from a pass by brother Ian – O’Farrell was again on target with his conversion attempt.

Full-back Bradley McNamara collected his own chip and chase to dot down and then from a five metre lineout Inst worked the ball wide for centre Bevan Prinsloo to go over for the bonus point score.

Winger Simon McMaster showed his pace to add a fifth try to give Inst a 31-0 half-time lead.

O’Farrell moved into scrum-half at the start of the second period and crossed for Inst’s sixth try while second tries for Dave Whitten and McNamara brought up Inst’s half century.

Dolphin got a try before Prinsloo went over for his second and the home side got two further tries before Whitten completed his hat-trick and Eagleson rounded off the rout.

Elsewhere, Dungannon moved up to fifth after a 20-5 win over Malahide at Stevenson Park while Rainey suffered defeat away at second-placed Corinthians.

The Old Boys are sixth while Belfast Harlequins slide to eighth after a 41-12 home defeat against Wanderers.

In Division 1A, both of Ulster’s clubs Ballynahinch and City of Armagh were defeated ahead of next weekend’s derby meeting.

Young Munster struck first against Hinch at Ballymacarn Park with full-back Adian Shortall crossing, but Ulster winger Aaron Sexton responded for the hosts with Conor Rankin adding the extras.

Shane O’Leary and Rankin exchanged penalties to leave the sides tied at 10-10 going into the break.

Rankin’s 51st minute penalty put Hinch in the lead, but O’Leary restored parity with a penalty with four minutes remaining before winning it for Young Munster with a stoppage time penalty, meaning Adam Craig’s side slip out of the top four.

Armagh went down 29-17 at defending league champions Terenure with Niall Carville, Andrew Willis and Dylan Nelson crossing for Chris Parker’s side.

Meanwhile, Queen’s, missing 13 representative players, suffered a fifth consecutive defeat in Division 1B.

Ryan Street got the students only try in a 41-13 defeat at Old Belvedere, where full-back Ben McFarlane kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Malone enjoyed their second win of the season as they beat Ulster rivals Banbridge 31-17 at Rifle Park.

Tries from Shane Kelly and Nathan Burns with one Peter Caves conversion gave Malone a 12-10 half time lead.

Stuart Dodington, Mark Galvin and Nathan Brown all crossed in the second half for the Belfast side.

The bonus point win closed the gap at the bottom of the table to two points on Ballymena, who won 14-12 at Eaton Park against Barnhall.

In Division 2C, Clogher Valley suffered a first defeat of the season, going down 20-17 at Enniscorthy.

Omagh lost 27-5 at home to Galwegians while Bangor fell to a 47-33 loss in Ballina.