AFTER such a disappointing start to their season Ballymena have started to play better rugby and this has been borne out by yesterday afternoon's victory which helps them move out of the relegation zone.

It was an interesting and exciting game at Eaton Park with the visitors taking an early lead when full back Stephen Grissing scored a try which Owen Hickey converted. A good forward drive by Andy Graham and Ben Hughes helped Ballymena to reduce the arrears when Scott Young scored an unconverted try. Dirkie Strydom and Hickey exchanged penalties to give UCD a 10-8 interval lead.

A controlled performance from Ballymena in the second half kept the students at bay.

Strydom was in excellent kicking form and clinched victory with two more penalties although he missed an easy effort at the end.

BALLYMENA N McKernan; R Kernaghan, S Shawe, H Head, R Young, A Graham; A McGrugan, B Hughes; P Spence, C Smith, A Spence, M McComish, J McGrugan, S Young, D Strydom. Subs A Kirkpatrick for McKernan, 60 mins; I Campbell for Kernaghan,60 mins; D O'Hara for Young, 43 mins: I Caldwell for Graham, 60 mins; M Greenan for Hughes, 60 mins UCD J Lee; M Moynagh, K Doyle, K McLaughlin, R Mandeno; S Crawford, L Burke;
K Croke, B O'Neill, O Hickey, M Fanning, N Kearns, K Kennedy, D McKenna, S Grissing.

Subs K Scott for Grissing, 50 mins; B Hall for Lee, 70 mins Referee J Quinn (IRFU)