THE power of Ballymena's forwards proved their passport to a deserved Ulster Senior Cup triumph against gritty Malone at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Their South African coach, Neile Smith, had Ballymena ready for the season's final curtain call and their organisation, control and discipline carried them to success. While Ballymena followers will have no complaints about the outcome, large parts of the game were dull and uninspiring, with both packs locked in a dour battle.

Ballymena's greater strength and variation in the tight, coupled with the work rate of their back row of Alan Graham, Johnny McCartney and Deane Macartney, in the loose gave them the upper hand. Coach Smith summed up Ballymena's effort: "Just before halftime, I felt we began to take control and in the second half we might have had another couple of tries."

Malone were unable to make any headway against Ballymena's impressive midfield defence despite the occasional thrusts of international centre Maurice Field and winger Stuart Porter. Gareth Fry and Neil Doak tried hard at half back to galvanise the losers but they were unable to stamp complete authority on the proceedings.

Malone had the advantage of a bright start when outhalf Fry dropped a goal and landed a penalty within 15 minutes. However, in the 18th minute, Ballymena achieved a vital breakthrough when, after a scrum and ruck, prop forward Norman McKernan crashed over the Malone line for the opening try.

And when Derek McAleese knocked a penalty in the 25th minute, Ballymena were in the driving seat. Malone then shot, themselves in the foot by missing two try scoring opportunities, with Field having a hand in both.

Ballymena were more creative in the early stages of the second period and, in the 47th minute, scrum half Mark Beattie extended their lead when he was on hand to touchdown after good work by his pack.

The busy McAleese put Ballymena in an even more comfortable position in the 56th minute when he latched onto a Beattie pass and ran in for his team's third try before adding the conversion himself to ease Ballymena into a 20-6 lead.

Malone displayed their resolve right to the end, however, and with a little luck might have added more than Scott Carroll's 50th minute try, converted by Fry.