All roads lead to Ravenhill this Easter. The 2nd XV rounded off a good season on Saturday when they beat Dungannon 3”s in the semi-final of the Crawford Cup. In a nervous semi-final they came out winners 8 – 16.
Ballymoney took the lead after 10 minutes with Sturat Nevin converted try and then a further penalty from James Campbell and a Dungannon penalty leave the score at 3 – 10 at the break. Ballymoney never lost the lead through the game and 2 more Campbell penalties gave the toon men a 3 – 16 lead. A late rally by Dungannon resulted in a try to leave the final score 8-16 and put the young 2”s in the Easter Tuesday Junior showpiece final at Ravenhill.
To add to the occasion Ballymoney will be playing neighbours Coleraine 2”s in the final. Supporters buses have been booked and if you wish to confirm a seat please contact the bar. More details on travel arrangments and kick off times will be posted on the website closer to the time. CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP TO DATE
For full match report and Captain reaction below:
Saturday 17th March saw the second XV travel to Co Tyrone to play Dungannon 3rd XV in the semi-final of the Crawford Cup. In a nervous close fought encounter the 2’s booked their place in the Ravenhill final on Easter Tuesday with a 16 – 8 win over the AIL club.
The 2nd XV squad were accompanied by a large number of ‘Toon’ supporters who made the long travel by bus to cheer on the young Ballymoney men. From the kick off their support seemed to spur the Toon men on as they went on the attack from the off. Conditions were perfect for rugby as although the sun stayed away, so did the wind and rain. Ballymoney put pressure on Dungannon right from the start and didn’t let their forwards make any ground at the ruck. The rush defence in the centres by Chris Clarke and Darren Smyth forced some early mistakes by Dungannon.
From the scrum Number 8 James Bellingham picked and feed scrum half Stuart Nevin. His break was quickly supported by the agile Toon forwards and some quick play at the ruck by Clyde and Montgomery moved Ballymoney towards the Gannon 22. Again the pack recycled the ball quickly and a trade mark run from prop Mathew Blair was halted just short of the line. With Dungannon running short of numbers, scrum half Nevin spotted a gap and divided over for the try below the posts. James Campbell added the conversion to give Ballymoney a 0 – 7 lead with only 10 minutes played.
This helped to settle the Ballymoney nerves but as expected the larger Dungannon pack took the ball at Ballymoney. They were well organised but the pace and aggression of the Ballymoney tackling meant they couldn’t make any ground. Ballymoney over eagerness resulted in a number of silly penalties being given away and this gave Dungannon the set piece to attack from. However with 20mintues minutes gone most of the play was maintained to the middle of the pitch. The Dungannon kicker missed with his first attempt but made up for it 5 minutes later when he slotted over a good kick to take the score to 3 – 7 after 30minutes.
The Toon men regrouped and increased the tempo again. They kept the ball well and moved towards the Dungannon line with some good breaks by Davy Calvin, Garvin Bellingham, John Bellingham and Ryan Clyde. Dungannon were penalised and Ballymoney opted for the posts. James Campbell fell short with his first attempt but then on the stroke of half time thanks to sustained pressure from Ballymoney had another opportunity and was successful to give the Ballymoney a 3 – 10 lead at half time.
The second half started again as the first left off with some great tackling by Michael Allen, Sam Kyle and Curtis Montgomery. Dungannon’s chances were limited and Ballymoney had the most of procession. Although they didn’t penetrate the home team’s 22 they played some good rugby and were awarded another penalty. Campbell made no mistake and gave Ballymoeny a 3 – 13 lead and meant now Dungannon had 30minutes to get two scores. David Calvin came off for Thomas Skelton Jnr and young Skelton knew what to do and put in some great kicks to keep the home team pinned back. Ballymoney were awarded another penalty on 55 minutes and again Campbell slotted it over to extend the lead to 3 – 16 and also this seen the Gannon blindside go to the bin for 10mintes.
Down to 14men Dungannon realised they had to throw everything at Ballymoney and they did. Some good running from their backs saw them get into the Toon 22. They took a number of penalties quickly and ran at the visitors’ line but once again Ballymoney’s tackling was first class. Dungannon kicked for the corner and on this occasion a well worked maul was adjudged to be pulled down and the Ballymoney forward was sent to the bin. With the number advantage Dungannon kicked to the corner again and this time the big Gannon pack made no mistake and pushed over for the try. With 15 minutes left Dungannon had a life line. With Ballymoney needing to close the game out Jonathan Brewster came on for Mathew Blair and Ballymoney tired to keep the ball. Nerves resulted in Dungannon overturning a few lineouts, but turnover ball meant that some great kicks from Lewis Murphy and Thomas Skelton put Dungannon into their own half.
Michael Allen who had ran and tackled himself into the ground was replaced with William Hazlet and Mathew Dunlop replaced Lewis Murphy on the wing. With 5 minutes to go a kick out on the full gave Dungannon procession and from the lineout they worked the ball towards the Ballymoney line. A massive tackle by James Bellingham allowed brother and Captain John Bellingham to go for the ball and win a penalty for Dungannon holding on. The ball was kicked out for the referee to blow his whistle for the end of the game and see Ballymoney win 8 – 16 and book their place in the final of the Crawford Cup on Easter Tuesday. Well done lads and come on the Toon!
Team: Blair, Kyle, John Bellingham ©, Clyde, Allen, Montgomery, James Bellingham, G Bellingham, Nevin, Calvin, McAuley, Clarke, Smyth, Murphy, Campbell SUBS: Brewster, Hazlet, Skelton, Dunlop, Gault.
Indigo Jewellery Man of the Match: Sam Kyle
Captains Comments: John Bellingham spoke after the match, “The most of this team has been together for the past 3 seasons. We have finished in the top 3 of the league so a good cup run was always our goal, but to actually get to the final is brilliant. We are a very young side and were easily giving away a stone a man in the forwards but what we loose in stature we make up for in commitment. All the team played well today and although it maybe wasn’t the best rugby you will see but then most semi-finals are like that. In the backs Davy Calvin controlled things well and made a number of good breaks. Thomas Skelton when he came on gave us great territory. In the centre Chris Clarke was immense and along with Darren Smyth stopped their backline making any ground. The forward defence was where the game was won today. Sam Kyle, Michael Allen and Cutis Montgomery tackled everything and as usual Gavin and James Bellingham were everywhere. It was a great team performance and from number 1 to 20 the guys deserved to be in the final. It will be a great day which is made even more special in the fact it will be a local derby against Coleraine 2’s. We will be taking it easy this week as a number of guys have been playing with knocks so I hope we can get them all fit for training next week.
The young second’s now have a chance to again make history for the club if they can go on to win the Crawford Cup. This will be the Clubs 3rd Ravenhill final in 3 years after the 1st XV won the Towns Cup in 2010 and the 4th XV were beat in the final of the McCambley Cup in the same year. The club will be organising supporter buses to go to the final. Anyone wishing to book a space on the bus can contact the Clubhouse. The final will be against Coleraine 2nd’s on Tuesday 10 April (Easter Tuesday) at Ravenhill so the 2nd’s would like as many supporters to attend as possible to cheer on our boys!
