BALLYCLARE RETAIN HALL TROPHY AT GLYNN
Ballyclare 1st XV and 2nd XV travelled the short distance to the Glynn on Boxing Day to play Larne for the Hall Cup as holders and with the trophy decided by cumulative points ther was little doubt in the outcome as the Clare 1st XV won 51-3 and a weakened 2nd team went down 15-11.
Larne 1st XV 3 Ballyclare 1st XV 51
The Clare were missing regulars Finlay,Boyd and Coburn in the pack plus Baird in the backs against a Larne side which had recently defeated Carrick in Qualifying 2.In the first half the home team had wind advantage but most of the constructive play came from the visitors coached by Bob Young. From an early penalty Lawther kicked to half way only for Larne to force a five metre scrum to no avail as Morrow cleared . One of the home forwards was penalised twice for ruck offences and a break by Weatherup ended with Fly half Lawther beating the home cover for the opening try not converted. The visitors again made ground through Ryan Tweed and Lawther kicked to the 22.The pack surged deep towards the home line only to be penalised. They tried to run the ball from defensive positions to good effect but Larne did well enough to counter and force a penalty which was kicked by the scrum half to make it 5-3. Hooker Wylie was injured to be replaced by Ross Scott who had an outstanding game.After the Clare pack made ground upfield Weatherup got posession and found Clotworthy who raced in for the second try as Lawther missed the conversion so it was 10-3 at half time.
Much of the second half was dominated by Ballyclare even though Larne made a brisk re-start before another break from Lawthercreated a try for Jamie Crothers and Morrow missed the conversion.Then following a powerful drive by the Clare pack Morrow made the opening for Weatherup to get a try with Morrow adding the points and it was now 22-3. The home defence was now under real pressure as a run by Byers and Lawther was halted near the line. After good work from winger Reid another run by Weatherup enabled skipper Logan to get the next score again not converted. Larne tried to come back but Clotworthy cleared well and Scott was unlucky not to score.However prop Tweed was well placed to get in for a try converted by Morrow and a 34-3 lead. Then an interception by Jackson on halfway brought the next score followed immediately by a breakaway score from Clotworthy which made it 44-3. Into the last minute another searing burst from Tweed brought the final try and Morrow added the points to leave it 51-3 to Ballyclare. This was afine team effort which did show the gap between the top section of Qual.2 and the lower reaches.
Ballyclare-G.Byers;J.Reid,J.Jackson,G.Clotworthy,J.Crothers;N.Lawther,C.Morrow,D.Tweed,A.Wylie(R.Scott),J.Birkmyre,M.Crothers,G.McKinstry,G.Weatherup,W.Logan (capt),R.Tweed.
Larne 2nd XV 15 Ballyclare 2nd XV 11
This was a closely contested game with a somewhat makeshift Clare Seconds led by Thirds captain Tony Turner tried to keep up with the home team whose accurate goal kicker proved to be the difference but the match was affected near the end by some events which were disappointing. In the first half play was fairly even as Larne led 6-0 from a couple of penalties before Alexander brought the Clare level with two similar scores. In the second half the home team edged 12-6 ahead from two more penalties but the Clare men came back with a try from centre Chris Gillan to make it 12 -11. However Larne had the last word with another successful penalty to edge 15-11 ahead . The Seconds had a late chance but from a tap penalty a Clare forward seemed to be unfairly hindered and the home team held on for the win.
Ballyclare 4th XV 32 Armoy 0–This McCambley Cup tie was eventually played at the fourth attempt on Saturday at the Cloughan in windy conditions. In the first half Armoy competed strongly at times–they had only lost once in the season–but the scores came from the Fourths. The opening try was scored by centre Gareth Smith after John Wasson had kicked an early penalty. Then flanker Harry Gaston went in for a score with Wasson adding the points to make it 15-0 at half time. The Clare men showed more of their true form in the second half despite the strong cross wind. Eventually Trevor Clarke broke clear to score and then Mark Alexander drove over for a try to take the Fourths well clear at 25-0. The team kept up the pressure and Wasson crossed for the final try and he also added the points to take it to a very respectable 32–0. In the second half the home pack took control with Aaron Breen the man of the match while there were good performances by John McDonald at fly half and John Wasson at full back. The team now has a bye in the second round and in the quarter finals will play either Ballynahinch or the powerful Ballymena 5ths towads the end of January.
CLOTWORTHY PLAYS FOR ULSTER JUNIORS
Ballyclare 1st XV centre Gary Clotworthy who has been scoring several tries recently had an outing last Thursday for the Ulster Junior XV who took on a strong Malone team at Gibson Park. He featured at fly half and took part in the second half and did well.
Saturday Fixtures–The only game scheduled is the 2nd XV at home to Cooke 2nd XV.
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