Narrow home defeat for Cambridge House

In a game which was as close as the score suggests, Down had forward power while Cambridge House were impressive with their speedy backs.

A good opening by House saw them 8-0 up in 10 minutes, a penalty from Timmy Small was quickly followed by a lighting cross field try by Josh Whann.

Almost immediately the Ballymena boys then presented a try to Down by throwing the ball wildly back from a ruck into their own try area and mishandling gave away seven points with the conversion.

Down had their best spell of the match after this and dominated the last quarter of the first half and cemented their lead with another converted try.

Cambridge had territorial superiority in the second half, another penalty from Small reduced the arrears to three points then he had two further opportunities which were crucially missed.

As so often happens when one side is in the ascendancy the opposition, in their only foray into the home half in the second period, produced another converted try minutes from the end to take Down ahead 21-11.

To their credit, Cambridge House summoned an instant response with a swift passing movement try from Whann and an excellent conversion from Small and the three point gap was back.

Cambridge had time for one more push but came up short at the ‘22’.

A good early season run out for both sides and highlighted some strengths and weaknesses, with flankers Harkness and Payne impressing for Cambridge House.