Dublin Uni loss keeps them near bottom

Dublin University 7 Ballymena 22

Dublin University’s relegation woes deepened at College Park as Ballymena scored a three-try win.

The Braidmen had only a point to spare – 23-22 – when the sides met last season, but early tries from hooker Paul Shields and Dirkie Strydom, who lined out at outside centre, had Steph Nel’s men 12-0 to the good at the break.

Dublin University scrum half Joey Burns scrambled over for a try, converted by teenage out-half Michael Boland, in the second half, but Strydom converted a subsequent penalty try award and a 30-metre penalty kick to end the second-from-bottom students’ hopes of a revival.

Scorers: Dublin Uni: Try: Joey Burns; Con: Michael Boland

Ballymena: Tries: Paul Shields, Dirkie Strydom, Penalty try; Cons: Strydom 2; Pen: Strydom