Seconds lose at Banbridge

Things have changed, however, and Ballymena came up against a well organised, competent side and lost by 17 points to eight.

Ballymena have been hampered in recent weeks with teams failing to turn up or those that did had very weak sides so really since being put out of the cups they have not had a lot of rugby and indeed the rustiness showed.

Banbridge dominated the early stages and Ballymena did well to restrict them to just two penalties. The sides then exchanged penalties to leave the half time score at nine points to three for Banbridge.

Unfortunately Ballymena lost Andrew Ferguson at half time through injury but worse was to come when Ballymena had three players yellow carded within a minute. However during this period Ballymena scored a try. Unfortunately one of the yellow cards was the kicker and in his absence Ballymena missed a conversion and a penalty.

Banbridge added a try and a penalty to run out winners.

Seconds: R McGreer; A Smyth, D Montgomery, C Brigl, J Wells; R Drysdale, A McCluggage; A Ferguson, C Cundell, A Campbell, W Knox, C Smyth, C Rea, S Hackney, S Mulholland.