Brendan Mullin led Bermuda Irish to victory in the 19th Annual Easter Classic yesterday to give the Irish a 10-9 lead in the series.

Tied at 9-9 going into yesterday's game, the Irish were looking to end a run of three successive defeats.

Narrow losses in 1989 and '90 were followed last year by a heavy 72-37 defeat by a Bermuda Invitational side boasting the talents of Australia's David Campese and England's Jeremy Guscott.

Anxious to avenge those losses, the Irish went out with all guns blazing, starting in the best way possible with a Mullin drop-goal minutes into the game.

But it was Bermuda who got the first try through scrum-half Dave Taylor of Renegades, who had a fine game for the gallant losers. His try was converted by Frenchman Phillippe Guillard, one of the talented French trio who graced yesterday's match.

It was the only time Bermuda got their noses in front all afternoon, and they did not have long to enjoy their lead.

Within minutes, Sean Field of Police went over for the Irish to restore a narrow 7-6 advantage.

Then it was the turn of Ireland's Keith Crossan to show the Nationals crowd the skill that has made him his country's most capped winger. His try made it 11-6 for the men in the green jerseys, who were slowly gaining the upper hand.

Field helped stretched the Irish side's lead with a try under the posts, which set up an easy conversion attempt for Police team-mate Alan Oliver.

David Beggy of Ireland, arguably the man of the match, made it 21-6 for the Irish side, with Oliver again converting. And if Beggy's performance yesterday is anything to go by, he should play a major role in his country's tour of New Zealand this summer.

But just when the Irish were starting to run away with it, Taylor was there again to pull the score back to 23-10 as the half-time whistle approached.

However, it was the Irish who squeezed in another telling strike just before the interval.

Mariners' Dave Buckley, accustomed to wearing green but not so accustomed to being on the winning side, got the try that gave the Irish a morale-boosting advantage at the break -- Mullin's conversion making the half-time score 29-10.

But Bermuda's captain for the afternoon, Ali Nicoll of Renegades, rallied his troops, and they came back strongly early in the second period with Taylor going over for his third try of the afternoon.

As time went on, however, the stage looked set for a long-overdue Irish victory, with the Bermuda side struggling to contain the surging runs of the Irish backs.

Oliver added his name to the list of try-scorers and Mullin's trusty boot put his side even further ahead.

Richard Wallace, one of Ireland's rising stars, gave the Classic crowd a treat as he scored the first of his three tries of the afternoon with a burst of speed down the right wing. Mullin again made no mistake with the conversion to put the Irish 41-14 ahead.

A flurry of substitutions saw Shane DeSilva of Police join the action, scoring for the Bermuda Invitational XV shortly after taking the field.

But it was Wallace who restored the Irish advantage with a well-taken try in the corner moments later.

Then it was the turn of French centre Jean-Marc Lafonde to grab the limelight -- converting his own try to make it 45-24.

And Dan Cozens of Police made the scoreline a little more encouraging for the Bermuda side when he forced his way over the Irish line.

It was the Irish, however, who had the final say with Wallace completing his hat-trick to make it 49-28 when referee Tony Spreadbury sounded the whistle for full time.

Victorious captain Mullin accepted the crystal trophy from Sports Minister Pam Gordon, and said he was delighted to have been part of a great game of rugby.

It was Mullin's third victory in five Classic appearances, having made a winning debut here back in 1984 -- the year he made his international debut for Ireland.

Recently retired from international rugby, Mullin said he would now be channelling his energies into playing for his club side Blackrock College, and hopefuly making an annual appearance in Bermuda's Easter Classic! Irish Invitational XV: D.Beggy, R. Wallace, B.Mullin (capt.), G.Osborne, K.Crossan, A.Oliver, G.Davies, D.Silvester, S.Field, T.Walsh, A.Gorbutt, R.Raistrick, D.Buckley, S.Givens, N.Doran. (Replacements) -- D. Caslin, M.Kane, C.Lunn, M.Deevy, N.Alexander.

Bermuda Invitational XV: B.Whitehead, M.Gorman, P.Daubas, J-M Lafonde, P.Guillard, M.McTurk, D. Taylor, A.Nicoll (capt.), C.Welsh, A.Cook, I.McLellan, B.Hurdle, D.Cozens, D.Cooke, B.McNiven. (Replacements) -- P.Heaney, A.Harvey, S.DeSilva, J.Harris, R.Carruthers, A.Pell.

Earlier yesterday, an Old Bermuda line-up battled to a 34-12 victory over the touring Niagara Old Boys in an entertaining encounter that served to warm up the appreciative crowd for the main event.

The tourists will be seeking to even the score when the two sides meet again at Nationals at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

PUTTING THE BOOT IN! -- Alan Oliver kicks for touch as Bermuda close in. Bobby Hurdle (headband) is at rear.