On Saturday at Kilraughts Road Ballymoney 3XV hosted UUCM 1XV in a match that was set to be a hotly contested encounter.

The university side started the match strong with their youthful backline scoring 2 tries out wide in the first 10 minutes of the game. The toon men were under pressure and were down to 14 men, after Gavin Finney received a yellow card for repeated infringements, but managed to keep UUC from scoring a third try.

Some strong mauls from the lineout and hard carries allowed Ballymoney to work their way back into the game. John McFetridge crossed the line twice to bring the toon back into contention. Half time score 14-12 to UUCM.

In the second half Ballymoney enjoyed much more possession. The strong platform at the scrum gave Jonny McMullan good ball to test the UUC defence. With the backs finding their feet, Ruairi Hawthorne was able to run in a try to put Ballymoney ahead.

Further sustained pressure allowed Neal Mulholland to cross the line from close range to seal the bonus point for Ballymoney. UUC responded with a try of their own in the dying minutes of the game to leave the score 26-19 in favour of the hosts.

Ballymoney 3s currently sit top of the table and continue their league campaign next week away to Randalstown 2s.