Ballymena win eases relegation worries

Ballymena 14 UCD 10

Ballymena came from behind at Eaton Park to grab a valuable win in their quest to stave off their relegation worries.

The fourth-from-bottom Braidmen closed the gap on the sides above them as a brace of second half penalties from full-back Dirkie Strydom saw them edge past the students.

Ballymena winger Scott Young cancelled an early try from UCD’s Stephen Grissing with a try of his own, but an Eoghan Hickey penalty helped the visitors into a 10-8 interval lead.

The Braidmen, with lock Henry Head in outstanding form, dominated possession in the second half and Strydom did the rest.

Scorers: Ballymena: Try: Scott Young; Pens: Dirkie Strydom 3

UCD: Try: Stephen Grissing; Con: Eoghan Hickey; Pen: Hickey