All Ireland League round-up as Malone make it three bonus point wins in a row and Ballyclare win epic against Malahide

Malone had to rally from 19-8 down during the first half against a Skerries side that included from Ulster lock Alan O’Connor.

Malone forwards coach Richard Boyd is happy to start the first block of AIL games with a maximum points return.

“We are absolutely delighted to get three from three,” said Boyd. “I think if you had asked for that back in August, we would have taken it any day of the week.

“I just thought Skerries was a really special win because we really had to go to the well in terms of our resources. We were missing quite a few from last week and then we lost two or three during the week during training, especially in the forward pack, so big credit to Cavey (Dave Cave) for getting the lineout sorted.

“We were trying to make Gibson Park a bit of a fortress again to get two wins here and hopefully that's two of many.

“Skerries are good side, but I just thought it was a really entertaining game – not one for the coaches to enjoy just as much – but in terms of spirit and what our boys showed it was really encouraging for the rest of the season.

“We just re-grouped and any time we were asked a question, our work at the breakdown was massive and it really allowed us to get access into the game,” he added.

“I thought Ross Todd and Cavey in the back row especially were unreal at getting us access there at the breakdown… and then we were pretty clinical when we got down there again.

“That's something we've been focused on this year: being clinical in the green zone and we were that again, which allowed us then to stay on top.”

Boyd hailed the maturity and the character of his Malone team to dig in during the closing stages as Skerries chased a winning score.

“There's a maturity in the group now,” he said. “The guys there have lots of All-Ireland League caps, we've had to draw on that experience. It's helpful for the younger guys as well but it's just getting in that knack of winning again and fighting for the right side of that, so it's a good start. There's a long season ahead.

“We've been in this position before, so it's trying to make sure we rest, we regroup and we go again.

“Games are now high-scoring, it's now [about] digging deep at the right times, and I thought against Skerries when we were really asked questions, we really fronted it up.

“They threw everything at us in the last 5-10 minutes there, but I was really impressed how we stuck at it. We showed character and that really puts us in good stead for Block 2 and beyond.”

Hooker Sam Green and winger Cameron McCaughey got a brace of tries for Malone while full back Chris Cosgrove also crossed.

They was an epic battle at the Cloughan as Ballyclare scored nine tires to Malahide’s seven in a 61-42 win.

Enniskillen kept their perfect record with a 50-19 win over Navan, while Clogher Valley edged the Ulster derby with Banbridge 25-24.

Rainey lost in Sligo and Ballynahinch are still searching for their first point of the season after a 32-14 defeat at Young Munster.

Ulster prop Scott Wilson was among the try-scorers as City of Armagh got their first win of the season with a 24-12 win over UCC.

Instonians also got off the mark with a 23-21 victory at Nenagh.

Paddy Browne’s late try gave Ballymena a 26-19 victory over Queen’s in the Division 2A Ulster derby and Dungannon made it three wins from three in a 27-7 success at Corinthians.