Buccs set the pace early on to lead 8-0 from a Justin Meagher penalty and a fine Tim Allnutt try after 27 minutes. For all their pile-driving efforts, Tarf’s breakthrough had to wait until 5 minutes into added time in the opening half when Ben Gissing was adjudged to have touched down. James Dempsey’s conversion reduced the arrears to 8-7.

On the resumption, Buccaneers promptly added another Meagher penalty but the young outhalf quickly missed two more. Pressure by Clontarf’s steam-roller pack set up Daire Higgins try after 61 minutes for a short-lived lead as Meagher landed his third penalty just four minutes later.

However, added time was to prove crucial for the metropolitans in this half also. Dempsey’s attempted drop goal was blocked down by Buccs who were then driven over their goal line and, from the resultant 5-metre scrum in a rare bout of backline adventure, scrumhalf Walls somehow found a gap in the midlands’ defence to slip in for a try that moves Clontarf up to third place with only one series of games remaining.