Blackrock hand Ballymena first defeat

Ballymena 8 Blackrock 13

(HT: Ballymena 5 Blackrock 10)

Ballymena suffered their first loss this season at a rain-lashed Eaton Park, as mid-table Blackrock took their third win after five series of games, winning 13-8 and handing Cork Con the lead at the top of Division One.

Ballymena, minus Ulster contracted star Paddy Wallace, made the better start, with back row Michael McComish powering over on five minutes for his third try of the League campaign.

Out-half Iain Humphreys failed to convert, which proved to be Ballymena's only score of the opening half.

Blackrock's pack came more into the game thereafter, with a just reward coming from the boot of out-half Conor Kilroy, from a 35th minute penalty.

Wily 21-year-old scrum half Ross Molloy managed to charge down a Humphreys clearance near the Ballymena 22-metre line to sprint over with a minute remaining in the first half, and his half-back partner Kilroy slotted over a brilliant touch line conversion to put Stephen McIvor's men 10-5

in front at the break.

An early Humphreys penalty gave them some hope of overtaking the Dublin side, but 'Rock, with David Dillon outstanding at number 8, held on, and a Kilroy penalty ten minutes from the end sealed a famous victory.

Scorers: Ballymena: Try: McComish; Pen: Humphreys.

Blackrock: Try: Molloy; Con: Kilroy; Pen: Kilroy 2