Round four of the Ulster Bank AIL and Ballymena entertained Galwegians at Eaton Park. After dominating the tie for many years, Ballymena had not beaten their visitors in the last four.
The match was preceded with a minute silence as a mark of respect to the sad passing of Galwegians long time member and official Sean Healy.
The match got off to a lively start with Galwegians applying early pressure and winning a couple of penalties in the Ballymena 22. They elected to scrummage on each occasion and their big pack certainly looked to have the edge in this call. After the second of these scrums they mauled towards the Ballymena line, and lock Brian McClearn went over for the opening score, stunning the home support. Tadgh Leader, son of Galwegians President Noel, converted to give the visitors a seven point lead.
Ballymena responded with some good phases which resulted in Ali Fraser doing very well to score in the corner. John Semple converted with a superb effort from the touchline, bringing the score level at 7 all on 10mins.
Both teams had subsequent attacks with some good line kicking from Martin Irwin keeping his pack moving forward. However Galwegians responded and a knock on in the Ballymena 22 lead to an attacking scrum. The visitors moved the ball wide and were denied a second try with an excellent covering tackle from Paul Pritchard in the corner taking man and ball into touch.
After the comprehensive defeat of Academy, the Seconds find theselves with a much tougher nut to crack in the quarter final, having been drawn against Cooke, still unbeaten in Qualifying One. The game will be played on Saturday, 12th November.
Both teams found the conditions difficult with a number of errors but it was Ballymena who managed better and took the lead on 26mins with a John Semple penalty.
Galwegians responded with some driving play and won three penalties in quick succession, opting for a line kick with the first then kicking for goal with the other two. Both attempts were missed.
They continued to press and Richard Aingworth pounced on a spilled pass to kick and chase almost to the visitors line however Galwegians regained the ball but their clearance gave Ballymena a line out on the 5 metre line. Good possession followed by three phases led to a try out wide for John Semple who converted with another excellent kick from the touchline, giving Ballymena a half time lead 17 points to 7.
Half-Time Ballymena 17 Galwegians 7
Galwegians started the second half with purpose and good defence from the Ballymena midfield of Aingworth and Alan Smyth prevented any progress.
Ballymena attacked again moving the ball across the back line and Ricky Andrew broke through on 53mins to run 40 metres to score in the corner. The conversion was short but Ballymena extended their lead to 22 – 7.
Galwegians responded again making their way back up to the Ballymena line and after a number of phases created an overlap out wide, which lead to a try from prop Jamie Sevens on 59 mins. Tadgh Leader was successful with the conversion to reduced the margin to 22 – 14.
Good pressure from Ballymena led to a scrum then a penalty which Semple, who was having a great game, converted to extend the lead to eleven points at 25 – 14.
Once again Galwegians came back at Ballymena and advanced to the home side’s try line with a number of pick and go moves. Despite some good defence scrum half David Moore squeezed in for the try on 70 mins. The conversion was wide however with 10 mins left in the match it was 25 – 19 to Ballymena, and either team could have a bonus point win with another try.
It was Ballymena who held out and in the final few minutes they attacked the Galwegians line, and from a ruck Stephen Mulholland did well to come over the top and stretch for the line to score the winning try and gain the bonus. John Semple converted to leave the final score 32 – 19 and fin ins with a personal tally of 17 points.
Final Score – Ballymena 32 Galwegians 19
