It was a case of mixed fortunes for the Ulster clubs involved in the AIB Division 1B this weekend. Ballymena pipped local rivals Ballymena in the dying minutes of their encounter and Ballynahinch lost at home to league leaders Old Belvedere.
Dungannon 15 – 21 Ballymena
Ballymena were the victors in the Division 1B encounter with Dungannon at Stevenson Park. Dungannon out half James Shiells had kicked Dungannon into the lead with three penalties and two drop goals and despite tries from Ballymena’s captain Sam McKinney and center Steven Castle it looked as though Dungannon would hold on for a win.
However Ballymena’s flanker Andrew Kerr bludgeoned over the line deep into injury time and out-half O’Hara added his third conversion to bring the final score to Dungannon 15 – 21 Ballymena.
Dungannon: Neil Patterson; Chris Cochrane, Paul Magee (capt), Ethan Allen, Craig Gilroy; James Shiells, Jason Bloomfield; Glen Sinnamon, Richard Carleton, Mark Farquhar, Richard Holmes, Michael Rainey, Derek Hall, Ali Birch, Stuart McKenzie. Replacements: Colm Heaney, Gary Maxwell, Paul Heaney, John McGuckin, Glen Telford.
Ballymena: Ricky Andrew; Roger McBurney, Kyle Moore, Steven Castle, Tommy Seymour; David O’Hara, Gareth Fisher; James Carson, Ryan Fisher, Simon Shawe, Darryl O’Kane, Bob Young, Andrew Kerr, Paul Pritchard, Sam McKinney (capt).Replacements: Jake Smith, James Taggart, Joel Andrew, Chris Smyth, Paul Campbell.
Ballynahinch 10 – 29 Old Belvedere
A penalty in the first half from the boot of Ryan Bambry and a try in the second by lock Robert Greer, converted by Bambry, were all Hinch could find in reply to Old Belvedere’s tries from Mongan (2) and Auva’a.
Belvo’s full back Conal Keane added two conversions and four penalties to leave Ballynahinch trailing 10 – 29 at the final whistle.
Ballynahinch: Harry McAleese; Mark Scott, Jonny Cullen, Stuart Morrow, Kyle Corrigan; Ryan Bambry, David Drake; Chris Stevenson, David McGregor, Paddy McAllister, Robert Greer, Jonny Graham, Michael Graham, Joshua Donaldson, Stuart Lamb (capt). Replacements: David Harris, Michael Kirkwood, James Simpson, Gavin Armstrong, Lewis Johnston.
With the clubs now taking a break in the League until January 9th the current league standings are as follows:
|
Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
TB |
LB |
Pts |
| 1 | Old Belvedere | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 166 | 67 | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | Young Munster | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 113 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| 3 | U.C.C. | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 95 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| 4 | Galwegians | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 96 | 113 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 5 | Ballymena | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 119 | 134 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| 6 | Dungannon | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 90 | 109 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 7 | Ballynahinch | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 80 | 138 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Buccaneers | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 147 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
