UCD almost pulled full points out of the fire at the Sports Bowl when they came from 317 behind at half-time to draw level with a captain's try from Conor Geoghegan 10 minutes before full-time. The Students pushed hard for a winner but Lansdowne, whose defence looked shaky throughout, just about held their line. By the finish they appeared to be relieved, having escaped with a share of the spoils.

Lansdowne put down an early marker and full back Robbie Dolan opted to kick for touch rather than take an easy penalty goal. The ploy succeeded and two rucks later tight head Karl Cleere bundled over . Lansdowne struck again after 10 minutes when hooker Gavin O'Meara crossed. UCD's sole consolation came from a seventh minute penalty by Fergus McFadden, but Dolan replied with two easy penalties.

UCD made a match of it in the second half and got an early penalty before out-half Ian Keatley made the breakthrough with a fine dummy and a run. Then after 74 minutes, captain Geoghegan took a brilliant pass from Hastings for a converted try which drew the sides level.

The result means that Lansdowne retain the Sutherland Cup which they won in the inaugural event last year.

UCD R McCarron; M Hickey-Crowe, F McFadden, M Hastings, K Lett; I Keatley, B O'Neill; B McGovern, C Geoghegan (c), N Best, A Houlihan, R Mandeno, K Croke, G Murphy, S O'Brien Subs C McInerney for Houlihan, 45 mins; G Telford for McInerney, 62 mins; M Moynagh for Best, 64 mins LANSDOWNE R Dolan; N Walsh, G Stafford, C Casey, B McGovern; B O'Shea, S Whelan; J Lyne, G O'Meara, K Cleere, A Maher, D Toner, D Lavin (c), J O'Donovan, R Jones Subs R Boucher for McGovern, 55 mins; K Corrigan for O'Meara 57 mins; N Ronan for Lavin, 57 mins Referee P Smith