All-Ireland League Division One:Leaders Cork Constitution laid down a significant marker for the remainder of the tournament by travelling to Dublin and thumping Clontarf 36-7.
Munster's New Zealand-born outhalf Jeremy Manning, who had played as a replacement the previous night for the province in their Magners League win over Edinburgh in the Scottish capital, produced a highly assured performance in amassing 19 points.
Manning grabbed a try and kicked two penalties, two drop-goals and a conversion, while Daragh Lyons, Cronan Healy and John Kelly also crossed the Clontarf line for a bonus-point success. The Dublin club slip from third to fourth and will need a significant improvement if they are to maintain their play-off ambitions.
Shannon had to work hard for their 28-21 success over Ballymena at Coonagh but they too picked up a bonus point with a couple of tries from Andrew Thompson - also very assured with the boot - and one apiece from number eight David Quinlan and scrumhalf Fiach O'Loughlin.
It was a good day also for another Limerick side, Garryowen, who eased to a facile 38-5 win over Greystones at Dr Hickey Park.
The home side were reduced to 14 men when Jamie Hagan was sent off but Garryowen were appreciably the better team in claiming their bonus-point victory.
Dolphin overcame UCD at Belfield 28-23 and the Cork club will be deeply appreciative that two men who had played as replacements for Munster on Friday night in Edinburgh started for their club on the Saturday afternoon. James Coughlan grabbed two tries while Tomás O'Leary provided a shrewd and intelligent service from halfback as Dolphin claimed a bonus-point victory.
The game's best try was provided by UCD wing Vasily Artemiev, who underlined his prowess in beating three players to secure a fine individual score and ensure UCD garnered a losing bonus point.
It took a late try by the Blackrock College fullback Fionn Carr to deny Galwegians a home win and hand the Dublin side a narrow 17-14 victory.
Carr scored all his side's points after they had gone 9-0 behind.
UL Bohemian also earned a winning bonus point over Terenure College at Lakelands, wing John Ed O'Connor crossing for a couple of tries while Fergal Lawlor and Ian Hanley also dotted down.
St Mary's College put Lansdowne in further trouble with a 13-9 victory at Templeville Road. Former Ireland schools captain Conor McInerney scored the game's only try, while Mark Sexton - a younger brother of Leinster's Jonathan - added a conversion and two penalties.
The fact Lansdowne managed to secure a losing bonus point was important, especially as Dungannon were hammered at home (29-12) by an Old Belvedere side making light of the absence of a couple of key backs in Eoin O'Malley and Felix Jones, who were on Leinster duty.
