Ballynahinch survive scare to top Division 1B

The two clubs at the bottom of the Division 1B table provided a rousing contest at Kilballyowen Park before Bruff emerged as 22-18 winners over a determined UCC side.

But for UCC the signs are ominous and the concession of two tries early in the second half after they had a player in the sin-bin had a critical bearing on the outcome.

Bruff dominated in the first five minutes and were rewarded for their strong scrum when UCC were penalised for not binding properly and Brian Cahill popped over the penalty kick.

The lead was shortlived - only three minutes in all - as UCC capitalised on slack midfield play by the home side and Mike Linehan broke down the centre of the pitch to touch down for a try that Brian Kingston converted.

Bruff were in trouble again on the quarter hour mark. This time they lost their own lineout throw and when UCC gained possession, they moved the ball wide and this time talismanic captain Brian O'Callaghan finished off an unconverted try which gave his side a 12-3 half-time lead.

The sin-binning of prop Dave Horan in the first half did not have as big an impact on the outcome as did the yellow card picked up by UCC's Willie Ryan two minutes into the second period.

While he was out of the action, Bruff mustered up two tries. The first came immediately after the sin-binning when the Bruff pack drove over and number 8 Paddy Clery got the touchdown.

Bruff went back in front when Mark Cosgrave got in after six phases of play by the pack culminated in Brendan Deady superbly grabbing an overhead pass and he sent Cosgrave over. The conversion followed from Cahill.

When Bruff were penalised for offside Kingston landed the penalty to make it 15-15. yet ten minutes from the end Bruff's forwards were rewarded for their efforts.

They forced two five-metre scrums in rapid succession and at the second of them UCC were penalised. Flanker John Shine took a quick tap penalty and raced away to his left until he found the gap to dive in for the try which Cahill converted, crowning a badly-needed win for the Limerick side.

Table toppers Ballynahinch got a second-half scare from UL Bohemians at Annacotty but they had done enough before the hosts' late fightback to deserve a 20-16 victory.

The visitors led 17-3 at the interval after UL made a dreadful start. Their troubles began as early as the sixth minute when James Thompson made an interception and raced clear untouched for a try that James Lash converted.

This was followd by a second try when 'Hinch's Stuart Morrow broke through the middle and touched down and again Lash added the points.

All the home side could manage was a penalty by Munster prospect JJ Hanrahan and it looked as if the County Down outfit would run riot in the second half.

But UL Bohs responded well and ten minutes into the second half Ben Martin rounded off a splendid move with a try which was followed by another Hanrahan penalty.

New Zealander Lash put over a penalty to edge the visitors to their 20 points but midway through the half Finbarr Ahern nabbed a try for the Limerick hosts.

In a frantic finale the home side pressed for another try but had to be content with the losing bonus point.

Meanwhile, with player-coach Kieran Campbell directing operations at scrum half, Dungannon showed their class by thumping their Ulster rivals Ballymena by 39-13.

Eaton Park was rocked by a glut of tries for 'Gannon, including another from in-form winger Chris Cochrane who now has eight league scores to his name this season.

Ballymena, who lost at Belfast Harlequins last weekend, were still in the hunt when trailing by 16-6 at the break.

But second half tries from Ali Birch, Cochrane and Stuart McCloskey put the result beyond any doubt. Winger Michael Lawton also caught the eye with five penalties and two conversions for a 19-point place-kicking haul.

There was another high-scoring clash at Belfield where Ulster's Neil McComb and Stuart Olding shared out four tries in a 39-22 victory for Belfast Harlequins.

Flanker Lawrence Babe also dotted down for the visitors who did most of the damage in a first half which ended with them leading 32-10. UCD made a contest of after the break, with Ireland Under-20 prop James Tracy getting among the tries.