IT WAS highly appropriate that a superb match honoured the memory of a famed former Ballina and Leinster player on a weekend when the eastern province had one of their most significant victories.

Club President, Brian West fielded a very impressive outfit while the home side also put a very competitive team on the pitch for the Easter Sunday showdown by the Moy.

Ballina soon set about taking control of the game with the pack very impressive. In the scrums James O'Connor was to the fore while in the lineouts Stephen Dolan and Phillip Timoney stole several of their opposition's throws.

Half-backs Michael Murphy and Ciaran Rouse controlled the game well as Ballina took up residence in the opposition half, but the stout defence of the President's Simon Wade, David Clarke and Francis Cooney kept Ballina's potent centres Stephen McCarron and Michael Clarke out.

Ciaran Rouse gave Ballina a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes when converting a penalty and the hosts kept up the pressure and began to build phases of play as Tom Tolan, Marc Healy Phillip Timoney and Aiden McNulty impressed.

Eventually play was brought right up to the try line and Richard Kelly crashed over for a try. Rouse was narrowly wide with the conversion.

Full-back Robert Forbes and wingers Francis Conroy and Kevin McCarron were doing well for Ballina at this point, but David Rowe, the President's captain, rallied his troops, leading well by example along with his brother in the back row, Phillip, Ronan O'Malley, Rodney O'Donnell and Arthur West. They set about their business with renewed vigour while the back three of Niall O'Byrne, Ian Masterson and Richard Rowe counter attacked with menace at every opportunity.

Lively scrum-half Alan Jennings was getting the ball out quickly and Richard Rowe almost got away for a try, but Phillip Timoney closed him down with an excellent covering tackle.

Both sides made changes in the second half, one of which was Andy Moynihan coming on at out-half for Ballina. He was immediately in the action, first of all by being narrowly wide with a difficult penalty kick and later on after courageously blocking an attempted clearance by his opposite number-before being forced off with an injury.

The game ebbed and flowed with prop Russell O'Brien and hooker Alan Keaveney to the fore for the President's and David Brunker doing well on the wing for Ballina as both sides strove for a score.

Eventually when the breakthrough came it was the President's select who scored a fine try after twice been held up short of the line by good defence. The elusive David Clarke eventually got over after fine play from his team. Simon Wade added the conversion to bring his side within a point of their opponents.

Ballina's response was swift and immediate. Straight from the kick off they put pressure on their opponents and after moving the ball well it fell to Aidan McNulty who scythed through for a try. Rouse was narrowly wide with the conversion so Ballina's lead was 13-7.

As time trickled away Wade put over a penalty to leave just three points between the sides but the President's men couldn't get on terms and victory went to the home team.

After the game Adrian Bourke, the brother of Aubrey presented the Cup to the Ballina captain, Michael Murphy. It should be noted that Referee Alistair Brown did very well in officiating this his first senior game and contributed to making a very entertaining spectacle.

BALLINA: James O'Connor, Richard Kelly, Tom Tolan, Marc Healy, Stephen Dolan, Orrie Collins, Phillip Timoney, Aiden McNulty, Michael Murphy, Ciaran Rouse, Francis Conroy, Michael Clarke, Stephen McCarron, Kevin McCarron, Robert Forbes
Replacements: Paul Neary, Conor Forde, Cormac Quinn, David Brunker, William Beattie. PRESIDENT'S XV: Craig Farrell (Ballina), Rodney O'Donnell (Wanderers), Chris O'Connor (Ballina), Andrew West (Old Wesley), Phillip Rowe (Wanderers), Arthur West (Ballina), Ronan O'Malley (Terenure), Alan Jennings (Ballina), Simon Wade (Edinburgh College), Ian Masterson (Old Wesley), Francis Cooney (DLSP), David Clarke (Galwegians), Niall O'Byrne (Old Wesley), Richard Rowe (Old Wesley), Russell O'Brien (Ballina), John Keaveney (Ballina), Judd Ruane (Ballina), Michael Wilson (Ballina), Jason Brickendale (Old Wesley)

REFEREE: Alistair Brown