Already the relegation trapdoor is creaking beneath the weight of Old Belvedere's disappointing start to a league campaign that only promises to get tougher. They may be leaving their seat in the top flight unless they can arrest their spiralling form.

This was a game that often threatened to break into an exciting confrontation. However, the malaise that has afflicted Ireland in recent years was very much in evidence on Saturday. Quite simply, there are few if any centres in the country that have the wherewithall to carve open a well organised defence and there was no such player present at Anglesea Road.

Then again, that didn't seem to hold Ballymena back. The midfield may have become cluttered and disjointed, but Andy Machett was a lot nearer the real action and a lot more effective than any other player on the field.

The early sparring resulted in Robbie Rein kicking a penalty and Derek McAleese landing a drop goal. Even by then Machett had cut loose. Three breaks and massive yardage should have gotten the message through to the Belvedere back row. Ignore the quicksilver scrum-half at your peril, but Belvedere did and they paid the price in the 24th minute.

It was just too easy for Machett to elude the supposed big hitters around the fringe of a ruck and stroll over under the posts. McAleese added the points and followed it with another penalty for good measure. The second of Rein's four penalties meant that Old Belvedere were still close enough, if good enough, at the break.

Rein's two second-half penalties sandwiched another McAleese drop goal and Belvedere were within a try of the lead. Indeed, their best chance of snatching the initiative came and went with their only dangerous thrust through the Ballymena midfield in the 62nd minute. But, Martin Ridge and Craig Bewley were cut down within a pass of each other. McAleese landed another penalty and the issue was decided when Ballymena were awarded a 72nd minute penalty try.

Ballymena's South African coach Nelie Smith was pragmatic in his response to his side's win. "That was not our best. We will have to lift our game considerably. That makes it two out of two, but we will have to learn to step up the tempo, concentrate on our discipline and make less mistakes. Besides that, we are starting to develop a winning culture and that is important."

Scoring sequence: 9 mins: R Rein penalty, 3-0; 11: D McAleese dropped goal, 3-3; 24: A Machett try, McAleese conversion, 3-10; 31: McAleese penalty, 3-13; 34: Rein penalty, 6-13; 43: Rein penalty, 9-13; 46: McAleese dropped goal, 9-16; 56: Rein penalty, 12-16; 69: McAleese penalty, 12-19; 72: penalty try, McAleese conversion, 12-26.

Old Belvedere: B Tracey; S Sexton, M Ridge, C Bewley, P McKenna; R Rein, G McDowell; R Ward, P Kenny, T Kearns, M Henderson, B McDonald, F O'Beirne, C Johnston, H McDonnell. Replacements: D Broe for Kenny (half-time), D Shanley for Johnston (63 mins), J O'Connor for Henderson (72 mins).

Ballymena: J Cunningham; J Topping, S McDowell, M Rainey, A Park; D McAleese, A Machett; N McKernan, S Richie, R Irwin, R West, G Longwell, A Graham, K Gallick, A Dougan.

Referee: J Cole (MRA).