IT WAS A tense finish but Letterkenny 1st XV did enough to post victory over Virginia last Saturday in the KUKRI Ulster Rugby Championship Division 3.

Letterkenny RFC 18
Virginia 14

In a fine defensive performance for the team from Dave Gallaher Memorial Park, they had led 11-0 but their opponents from Cavan began knocking louder on the door.

Some of the defence was with chalkmarks of the Letterkenny try-line but strength in the tackle and the ability to turnover vital possession was a major ingredient in the four-point victory.

Peter Scott for Letterkenny and Fergal Hennessy both missed early penalties. But on the half-hour mark John Anthony McFadden touched down for Letterkenny to establish a 5-0 lead.

In the 47th and then the 53rd minutes, Scott added penalties to establish that 11-0 advantage for Ciaran O'Dowd's troops.

Virginia's pressure finally told in the 73rd minute when prop Cillian Cahill went over to score a try and Hennessy converted to make it 11-7 and set up a tense finale.

Christopher Digimas, though, eased the tension with a try two minutes later following an excellent break from Scott. Scott converted for 18-7.

Tim Foley did score a try with the last play of the match, which Hennessy converted.