While Malahide were destined to be at the foot of the table for Christmas, defeat for Dolphin would have seen them in the relegation play off position.

Dolphin did see the better of the opening exchanges, Eoghan Sheehan stole a Malahide lineout on his own 22, the ball went through 7 pairs of hands before Karl Waterman received it just inside his own half. Scrum half Ryan Foley tracked well inside and he took the pass from Waterman about 5 metres out to score the opening try.

A knock on gave Malahide a scrum and they nicely equalized with a try in the corner.

Dolphin once more went on the attack and got over the Malahide line, but it resulted in a goal line drop out as the referee adjudged the ball being help up.

The wind played a major part in the visitors scoring their 2nd try. A Malahide player kicked from just outside his 22, one more role and it would have gone dead and a scrum back, but it was a goal line drop out. The drop out was held up in the wind and allowed Malahide to take it on the run, leading to a converted try.

Dolphin went on the offensive again, but turned the ball over in the opposition 22 to see Malahide scoring in the corner.

It looked like finishing 5-17 at half time until a kick seemingly destined for touch was recovered by Eoghan Sheehan whose try made it 10-17 at the break.

Mid way through the 2nd half following a couple of penalties near the line, Matt Barry crashed over for a try, his 3rd in 3 games. The conversion was pulled and the deficit was reduced to just 2 points.

Dolphin took the lead for the 2nd time in the game through outhalf Hunter Yarrall. With a strong wind at his back he kicked a penalty from 2 metres inside the Malahide half – 18-17.

Malahide were not done, and once more the went ahead through the bonus point try to lead by 4 points.

As the 80 mins loomed, Dolphin held their nerve and scored once again from close in, the ball finally spread and Hunter Yarrell dotted down and Billy Kingston added the extras.

The wind helped Dolphin again, the kickoff not going the required 10 metres, from the scrum Dolphin kicked into the 22 and the final few minutes of the game were spent in and around the Malahide 22.

The victory sees Dolphin climbing 3 places to 5th after the first round of games.