Nenagh Ormond remain in control of 2A with their third win of the campaign leaving them the only unbeaten side in the division. Cashel and UL Bohemian made up ground in the top four race.
Ballymena (5T) 34-10 Old Crescent (1T), Eaton Park
After two narrow defeats in the opening rounds, Ballymena got their opening win of the season with an impressive bonus point result over Old Crescent.
Josh Mark put the home side on the board early with the opening try Pierce Crowe converted but after an infringement a short while later Crescent were on the board as Ronan McKenna slotted a penalty.
Crescent were battling well in the opening half and put the hosts under pressure but right at the death in the opening Rodger McBurney powered over and Crowe added the extras for a 14-3 lead at the break.
Crowe slotted a 40 metre penalty to further the hosts advantage early in the second half, Callum Patterson produced a crossfield kick to put Rhys Irvine in the corner for their third try the gap out to 19.
Crescent would grab a try in response, getting under the posts they wasted no time drop kicking the conversion to leave 12 between the sides as the second half rumbled on. Irvine would soon grab his brace and the bonus try for Ballymena, the fifth arrived after a 50-22 by Glen Baillie, the input was claimed and the rolling maul saw James Howe over, the conversion capping off a strong performance at home.
Banbridge (6T) 40-46 MU Barnhall (7T), Rifle Park
Breathtaking from the word go, MU Barnhall grabbed their first win of the season in a high scoring spectacle in Rifle Park.
Six minutes into the contest, Nathan Hook crossed for Banbridge but almost immediately Barnhall levelled with an unconverted try. Johnny Scott put the hosts back in front but again Barnhall struck back to tie the contest at 12-12.
Barnhall struck twice toward the later stages of the opening half to take their bonus point and build out a 24-12 lead by the break. Conor Lacey added his second try for the Blue Bulls five minutes into the second half to extend the lead to 31-12. Five minutes later a lovely intercepted move saw a sixth Barnhall try pushed them 26 points clear.
On the hour mark Peter Cromie grabbed a third try for Banbridge with Adam Doherty adding two extra points to help cut the gap. Jack Hart added the bonus five minutes later and with a quarter of an hour left the hosts trailed by 12. Momentum stayed with the Kildare side following a penalty and subsequent try, the gap was 46-26 with minutes left. Within sixty seconds of each other Matthew Laird and Rob Sinton crossed for tries to leave six between them, despite a late fightback time was with the Leinster outfit.
Greystones (3T) 20-32 Cashel (4T), Dr Hickey Park
Cashel jumped to second in the standings with consecutive wins in the competition, ending Greystones unbeaten start to their 2A campaign in the process. Tom Tobin crossed for a brace while Jack Evenden and Brendan Crosse also added tries for the visitors.
The early exchanges were cagey and with 19 minutes gone Stephen Corry crossed for Greystones opening try for a 5-0 lead. Cashel replied well to lead 10-5 at the break crossing for a try and Ben Twoomey penalty
Corry crossed for a second try and Greystones regained the lead but it did not last long as Cashel added their third try in response. Stones levelled through a penalty but with two quick tries Cashel had their bonus and a 29-15 lead. Twoomey landed his second penalty before Greystones crossed for a late consolation try.
Malone (3T) 19-31 UL Bohemian (5T), Gibson Park
UL Bohs rise to third in the standings with a strong bonus point win in Belfast over Malone.
It was the hosts that controlled the opening half, crossing for an early seven points, before Tadhg Walsh got over in the corner from a counter attack to bring UL within two following a missed conversion. Malone went under the posts after 25 minutes to move seven clear, Red Robins captain Paul Clancy crossed shy of the half time break to make it a four point game.
Liam Neilan started the second half well for the Robins giving them the lead for the first time with their third try, Neilan turned provider to bring the bonus try, carrying well in the build-up Darragh O’Gorman crossed and the conversion put the visitors ahead 24-14.
Malone were awarded a penalty late in the second half as Ben Byrne went to the naughty step, kicking to the corner their lineout maul powered over to cut the gap 24-19. UL never squandered their lead and following a deliberate knock on they were awarded a penalty try to seal the result.
Nenagh Ormond (7T) 46-6 Navan (0T), New Ormond Park
In the top of the table clash in New Ormond Park, Nenagh put on a clinical display to remain unbeaten and show the rest of the division their intent for the title.
Nenagh crossed for seven tries in a terrific performance with Ben Pope one of their hot prospects scoring a hat trick, Josh Rowland bagged a brace while John Hayes and Conor McMahon both hit individual efforts.
The opening was cagey, an unconverted try putting Nenagh ahead by a slim margin as Rory Gordon landed a penalty for Navan. Two further tries along with McMahon striking a penalty sent the hosts into the dressing room ahead 20-6, Gordon with a second penalty to cut the gap.
Rowland added the bonus try minutes into the second half as the hosts were well on top. McMahon converted and would soon strike over John Hayes try and then cross for his own effort to put the hosts ahead 39-6. Nenagh capped the performance with a final try near the finish, the only side to remain unbeaten in 2A as a result.
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Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.