Lansdowne off to winning start

Ballymena 17 Lansdowne 33

Lansdowne, under new coaches Brian O’Meara and Liam Toland, got their AIB League Division One campaign off to a great start today with this defeat of hosts Ballymena.

The Dubliners battled back from being 10-3 down and shipping a yellow card to hooker Kevin Corrigan in the second half to romp home at the finish.

Tries from Simon Shaw (12 minutes) and Henry Head (19) had the Braidmen in front after Lansdowne’s new Kiwi fly-half Corey Burt had kicked an early penalty.

Then two tries in two minutes from David Lavin and Brendan McGeever, set up by a Fiachra Baynes break, pushed the visitors 17-10 in front at the break.

Burt, who scored 18 points in all, kicked another penalty for a ten-point lead early in the second half and added two further penalties to a Greg Stafford try to seal the win.

Ballymena, who won this fixture 45-5 last season, did have the final word as Ulster fly-half Adam Larkin scored a meaningless late try.

Scorers: Ballymena: Tries: Simon Shaw, Henry Head, Adam Larkin; Con: Larkin

Lansdowne: Tries: David Lavin, Brendan McGeever, Greg Stafford; Cons: Corey Burt 3; Pens: Burt 4