Blackrock overcome Ballymena

Blackrock 22 Ballymena 19

Blackrock enjoyed a tense but entertaining victory over Ballymena at Stradbrook.

Blackrock's Conor Buckley opened the scoring on 15 minutes before Gary Brown surged over. Emmett Farrell continued his recent run of form with a penalty and two conversions. He capped off a fine performance with a waltzing try on 73 minutes.

A combination of ill discipline and some farcical refereeing, ultimately proved costly for the Ulster men.

Ballymena though regrouped after the interval and dominated the second half. Outhalf Dirkie Strydom excelled with four penalties and converted Bryan Young try.

But McCartney and Waterhouse's sin-binning in the space of five minutes allowed 'Rock to regroup.