Ballynahinch were back in free-scoring form on their home patch this afternoon as they showed no mercy to Division 1B’s bottom side Ballymena.

Ballynahinch remain in control of Division 1B after digging deep to see off a committed Dublin University side 26-22 at Wallace High School.

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE HALF-TIMES:

A 14-point haul from Chris Quinn was crucial at the Belfield Bowl as Ballynahinch continued their excellent start to the Division 1B campaign with a hard-fought 24-13 win over UCD.

Liam Finn spoke of his pride after being confirmed as Ireland’s captain for the 2013 World Cup.

Roger Wilson will make his return from injury today as Ulster Ravens kick off their British & Irish Cup campaign against Bridgend Ravens in Deramore Park. Wilson will line out in his familiar number 8 position while former Ireland U20 captain Niall Annett starts at hooker.

The Aviva Stadium is set to rock for the first time this season on Saturday night with the arrival of a new-look Munster side for the first of their seasonal encounters with Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro 12.

New Bruff coach and former Munster centre Mike Lynch could hardly contain his admiration for a developing team, following a surprising but thoroughly deserved Ulster Bank League Division 1B victory over favourites Ballymena at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday.

Bruff scored two superb tries on their way to handing out a notable 25-5 defeat to Ballymena in the opening round of Division 1B this afternoon.

Peter stringer and Ronan O’Gara will form a familiar halfback partnership for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with the Dragons in Thomond Park on Saturday (8pm).

Three weeks into the new campaign and Munster are slowly resuming a semblance of proper order.

Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls and Conor Murray will all be named in the Munster squad when it is announced later this week for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Ulster in Ravenhill on Friday (7.05).

In a stunning run of results, the top three teams in Division 1B all suffered defeats today with Belfast Harlequins’ lead now standing at four points with just three rounds remaining.

Belfast Harlequins are now three points clear at the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1B after defeating UCC at Deramore Park this afternoon.

Ballynahinch are the new leaders of Ulster Bank League Division 1B having come from behind to grab a share of the spoils with UCD this afternoon.

Today’s Division 1B clash at Annacotty was plodding along in a somewhat tedious manner until a three-try blitz in a seven-minute spell pushed Ballymena out of sight and on their way to a 30-13 success.

A converted try fourteen minutes into the second half gave Buccaneers a tight 12-8 victory over Division 1B rivals UL Bohemian at Annacotty.

YOUNG MUNSTER player coach Mike Prendergast marked his return from long-term injury with a welcome 23-19 Ulster Bank victory to provide holders Old Belvedere with a reality check at Clifford Park.

Ballymena took the spoils in a rain-hit Division 1B opener against UCC at the Mardyke where centre Alisdair Frazer scored the only try.

THE semi-final picture should become clearer in the Irish Hockey League as a number of interprovincial rivalries are reprised this weekend.

CORK HARLEQUINS reprised their women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup glory days with a shock 1-0 victory at Ards, which leaves them flying the flag for Munster in the quarter-finals.

EIMEAR CREGAN has revealed that the pressure of combining full-time work and training programmes with a thrice-weekly commute to Cork was behind her decision to sign for Catholic Institute.

Richie Lane and Tim Kenneally scored two tries each as Cork Constitution dumped 2008 champions Shannon out of the AIB Cup, while Gerry Hurley kicked 14 points for Garryowen in their third round dismissal of AIB League Division 1A leaders St. Mary's College.

Making use of a first half wind advantage, early tries from Richie Lane and Tim Kenneally helped Cork Constitution on their way to a 28-0 half-time lead over Shannon in today's heavyweight AIB Cup clash at Temple Hill.

HAVING secured revenge over Ballynahinch for defeat in last season’s AIB Cup final, Cork Constitution will have to rise to another huge challenge at Temple Hill this afternoon (2.30).

YOUNG MUNSTER claimed the Limerick Charity Cup for the first time in 13 years with a dogged 11-10 win over UL Bohemian at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Coached by Andy Ward and Adam Larkin, Belfast Harlequins will face a trip to UL Bohemians in the next round of the AIB Cup after coming through their first round encounter with Naas at Deramore Park this afternoon.

AIB Cup first round results

An injury-time penalty goal from Andrew Thompson saw Shannon edge out Belfast Harlequins in a thrilling AIB Cup second round clash at Deramore Park this afternoon.

Next Saturday's AIB Cup final will be an Ulster-Munster affair as Limerick stalwarts, Garryowen, meet their northern counterparts, Belfast Harlequins, in Dubarry Park, Athlone for the AIB Cup Final.

SHANNON’S hopes of a possible AIB League and Cup double were dashed at Deramore Park on Saturday as Belfast Harlequins edged them 32-28 in a seven-try thriller.

Shannon's dreams of a possible AIB League and Cup double were dashed at Deramore Park as Belfast Harlequins edged them in a seven-try thriller.

ONE for the rugby fans and history buffs in Dooradoyle this afternoon when Clonakilty and Garryowen clash in the AIB Cup semi-final (2.30pm).

Clonakilty and Garryowen are set to meet next Saturday, March 31 in Dooradoyle for the AIB Cup semi-final - the first time that the two Munster-based clubs will meet in an AIB competition.

CLONTARF kept up their challenge for AIB league honours when they proved too strong for Buccaneers at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

Belfast Harlequins 19 St. Mary's College 3

Terenure College 22 Clonakilty 31

AIB CUP QUARTER-FINAL FULL-TIMES -

Belfast Harlequins' newly-found confidence was on show at Stradbrook today as they shared out an incredible 11 tries with Blackrock in a 43-36 victory.

AIB LEAGUE: RESULTS - DIVISION ONE:

Belfast Harlequins 21 Nenagh Ormond 0

Belfast Harlequins are still without a Division One win, eight games into the season, after they came a cropper at Deramore Park today.

Belfast Harlequins 16 Clontarf 27