Ballymena go top with win against Ballynahinch

Ballymena took the spoils in today's hotly-contested Ulster derby at Eaton Park, holding on to beat Ballynahinch 6-3 and leapfrog them at the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1B.

The Braidmen made it five wins out of seven thanks to a brace of first-half penalties from winger John Semple.

He split the posts after 12 and 30 minutes at Eaton Park with play largely confined between the 22-metre lines.

Both sides enjoyed sporadic periods of dominance, but top notch defending and poor decision making in attack left the game without a try.

Ballynahinch, who were slipping to their second defeat in three league outings, got off the mark thanks to a 75th-minute penalty from New Zealander James Lash.

But John Andrews’ home side held on for a well-merited win which stretches their unbeaten run in the competition to five matches.