Leader Eamonn Boland is suffering from a misted-up windscreen, but even that allied with the present wet conditions, has not yet conspired against him.

Boland's Subaru set the fastest time on Stages 10, 11 and 12, with England's Jon Mercer maintaining his two and a half minute deficit after recording the fastest time after Boland on the three most recent stages.

He even preceeded that by beating the Wexford three-time winner over Stage Nine - but only by a solitary second.

Boland told reporter Brian Patterson at service that he was taking things "nice and easy" on day two after almost certainly wrapping up the Wexford crown by last night.

Steve Fleck started the morning in third, but has now slipped to fourth, seven seconds behind Armagh's David Armstrong and a rapidly-slimming sixteen seconds ahead of Steve Hendy - the third Englishman in the top five.

Leaderboard after Stage 12 - PROVISIONAL 
 1 (001) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey   Subaru WRC      1:15:56
 2 (009) Jon Mercer/Lyn Jenkins           Metro 6R4       1:18:27
 3 (008) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn Escort RS       1:19:39
 4 (016) Steve Fleck/Tim Neal             Subaru          1:19:46
 5 (155) Steve Hendy/Vanessa Cann         Escort Cosworth 1:20:02
 6 (012) Phil Henderson/Aled Davies       Metro 6R4       1:20:44
 7 (011) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman    Escort WRC      1:21:16
 8 (010) Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty     Escort          1:21:24
 9 (046) Jon Tainton/Aled Davies          Lancer grN      1:21:44
10 (044) Guy Woodcock/Hu Kent             Escort RS2000   1:22:29