An exciting Representative tie was served up before the Defence Forces held out against Connacht Development XV at Corinthian Park yesterday where victory was due to no small effort from Mark Walsh who contributed 14 points for the winners. The victors trailed 3-0 after three minutes when Kiwi out-half Simon Allnutt had a good penalty.The Defence Forces had established a 10-3 lead by the 26th minute due to a try from leftwing Kevin O'Riordan (Cobh Pirates) and a penalty as well as a conversion by out-half Mark Walsh (Youghal) Walsh had two more good penalties between the 35th and 39th minute to establish a 6-3 lead for the Defence Forces at the interval. The final score for Walsh and his men came from another penalty by him in the 58th minute. The last 12 minutes were very exciting for the hosts brave challenge as in that time they had two tries through leftwing Tom Stuart Trainor (Buccaneers) his second in 24 hours and second row David Loughlin (Monivea). Holders Connacht captained by Sligo's Sylvia Hunter retained the women's interprovincial rugby championship when it drew to a close at Crowley Park, Galway yesterday.Connacht in the first match of ther tournament met Munster where scrum-half Fiona Devaney (Creggs) had three penalties on target after nine, 23 and 39 minutes with no score for their rivals.Irish Exiles and Leinster and Ulster versus Munster served up 0-0 draws while Connacht then beat Leinster 8-7. The Irish Exiles won by 5-3 against Ulster after a try by full back Aileen Galvin (Edinburgh Academicals).The overnight position placed Connacht ahead by one point on their nearest rivals, the Irish Exiles. The first match of the second day saw Leinster defeat Ulster by 3-0 while Connacht proved to strong for the Irish Exiles. Munster dented Leinster chances with a 5-0 success but Connacht secured the title with a 7-0 win over Ulster.