Such were the weather conditions on Saturday, it’s a wonder that four of the

Leinster

first division ties were completed, the game between Trinity and

Railway Union

abandoned after 10 minutes when the goals took on a life of their own in the gale force winds.

The conditions weren't a great deal better for the Hermes v Loreto game, but they managed to see it out, their 0-0 draw allowing UCD open up a six point lead at the top of the table – Jeamie Deacon scored twice for the students in their 3-1 defeat of Pembroke Wanderers.

Pembroke’s defeat combined with their 2-1 win away to North Kildare saw Old Alexandra move within a point of a top five place, while Corinthian and Glenanne, in ninth and eighth respectively, played out a 2-2 draw.

In Munster, the top two, UCC and Cork Harlequins, both had their games postponed due to the weather.

Darren Smith will trust that the conditions will be kinder in Spain when the senior Irish squad heads for Terrassa in January, the coach including several new faces in his panel.

"We have asked four outstanding players (Emma Duncan, Sara Twomey, Zoe Wilson and Ayeisha McFerran) who played in the Under 18 interprovincial tournament to travel to Terrassa and do some work with the senior squad," he said.