Corinthians returned to pole position in the AIB League division three with a deserved 25 - 20 victory over Portadown in Chambers Park.
Although Corinthians started well with centre Wayne Williams on target with a third minute penalty, the home side, despite playing against the wind, grabbed the initiative. After levelling with a penalty, they then opened the try tally when winger Steve Coulter touched down in the corner after some fine work from their pack.
However that score prompted Corinthians into action, and Pat Cunningham set up his side with a try after a superb line-out steal. Dave Murphy found Darren Classens in support and the fullback crossed out wide, to once again level the scores.
The Corinthian pack started to get on top and were rewarded when Classens added to his tally after scrumhalf Mick Roche chipped ahead. Williams converted to put Corinthians into a 15 - 8 half-time lead.
Captain Pat Cunningham extended when he crossed for a third Corinthian try, but the home side refused to buckle and kept in touch when scrumhalf Paul Spence got over the whitewash for a converted try.
However Corinthians secured both the win and a bonus point when replacement James Buckley got in for a try in the corner after a fine break by Roche, while the home side were rewarded with a losing bonus point when Tim Overy bagged a late try.
Corinthians: J Robinson, D Bardon, D Small, P Cunningham, G Ward, S Gerrity (B McCann ), A Cassanova (T Linnane ), R Connelan, M Roche, M O Boyle, D Murphy, C Begley, W Williams (J Buckley ), R Forbes, D Classens.
