Ballymena end barren spell with win over UCD

UCD 9 Ballymena 17, Belfield

Ballymena ended their barren AIB League Division One spell with a well-deserved 17-9 defeat of UCD today - their second win on only their second ever visit to Belfield.

One man who was quite comfortable in the surroundings was former UCD graduate Paddy Wallace, and the 25-year-old Ulster man kicked a game-winning three penalties and a drop goal in his duel with the students' Eoghan Hickey.

Hickey - already on 98 points from his first seven games - was the home side's sole scorer, banging over a two kicks in the first half to give College a 6-3 half-time lead, and hit the 100-point mark for the season.

Ballymena and Ulster wing Andy Maxwell confirmed the win which sees Steph Nel's men up to ninth, as he touched down and watched Wallace tag on a penalty vital drop goal, cancelling out a 28-metre drop effort from Hickey.

Scorers:

UCD: Pens: Eoghan Hickey 2; Drop gl: Hickey

Ballymena: Try: Andy Maxwell; Pens: Wallace 3; Drop gl: Wallace

HT: UCD 6 Ballymena 3