INSTONIANS 4ths 18 BALLYCLARE 3rds 53
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The Thirds included a couple of players who were returning from injury and were always too strong for a lowly placed Inst side at Shaws Bridge.A good start enabled Adam Dyer to go in for an early try and then David Crawford made the opening to put scrum half Watson over.The home side did manage to kick a couple of penalties and also had an early try but further Clare pressure up front led to a try for second row Gowdy and Watson also raced over to get his second.
Two of the tries were converted by Andrew Alexander who also kicked two penalties and this gave the Thirds a 29-6 lead at the interval.
The team remained on top and fly half Byers kept the ball moving and managed a sore on his own.Then J.J.Baird despite missing an earlier chance raced in near the corner to increase the lead . The pack kept up the pressure and prop Birkmyre surged over from a ruck to score. Watson must have made sure of man of the match as broke clear to notch his hattrick. Alexander kicked two conversions plus a penalty but credit had to go to a game Inst team who managed to nick a late score to make it 53-18 at the end. For the Thirds Byers,Watson,Crawford and Clarke always posed a threat in the backs while the pack all worked hard in a fine win.
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