Ballymena have it handy against Lansdowne

Ballymena 20 Lansdowne 0

Ballymena put in arguably the performance of the day as they whitewashed Lansdowne at a rain-lashed Eaton Park.

Jacques Benade’s side managed to keep their opponents to nil for the third week running – UCD (19-0) and Greystones (27-0) were accounted for in recent weeks.

A 21st-minute try from winger Chris Browne, set up by scrum half Craig Woods, got Ballymena up and running.

Ulster centre Seamus Mallon sliced through a gap to grab the clinching try, nine minutes from time.

Ballymena’s victory – their fourth league win on the trot – looked on the cards in the opening quarter when the Braidmen established control in the scrum.

Their front row unit of Chris Allen, Michael Hershaw and AIB Club international Simon Shawe had their opponents on the ropes, while lock Darren Best was excellent in the lineout.

Ballymena hit the front when a fine break from Woods led to wide man Browne getting over in the left corner and out-half Donovan Raw added an excellent conversion from the touchline.

Lansdowne were 7-0 in arrears at the break despite the best efforts of centres Justin Meagher and Greg Stafford, scrum half Derry Coughlan and pack heavyweights Devin Toner and Willie Wallace.

The Dublin 4 side, beaten in recent weeks by Blackrock College and Dolphin, struggled for continuity in the second half and a penalty and drop goal from Raw edged Ballymena further in front.

They put the seal on the win when patient work from the forwards led to the Lansdowne defensive line being stretched and Mallon sped through a gap and made the line from 30 metres out, with Raw again adding the conversion.

A mention for Leinster referee Mark Gargan, who put in a very good display and kept the game flowing when other officials might have reduced it to a stop-start affair.

Scorers: Ballymena: Tries: Chris Browne, Seamus Mallon; Cons: Donovan Raw 2; Pen: Donovan Raw; Drop: Donovan Raw