Dublin University’s relegation woes deepened at College Park as Ballymena ran in three-tries in a 22-17 win.
The Braidmen had only a point to spare – 23-22 – when the sides met last season, but early tries from hooker Paul Shields and Dirkie Strydom, who lined out at outside centre, had Steph Nel’s men 12-0 to the good at the break.
Dublin University scrum half Joey Burns scrambled over for a try, converted by teenage out-half Michael Boland, in the second half, but Strydom converted a subsequent penalty try award and a 30-metre penalty kick to end the second-from-bottom students’ hopes of a revival.
