Ballyclare Rugby Club 4th XV ,who of course are going to Ravenhill on Friday night to play Harlequins in the McCambley Cup final, were at home on saturday to Armoy in the semi final of the Ravenhill Cup. Each team had qualified for this by winning their respective sections of the Minor League and actually had met in January in the McCambley Cup. Armoy arrived with a strong support some of whom had not appreciated the long term success of the Clare team this season. The North Antrim side had done well under their player coach Ian Caldwell and deserved to win their league.They had the advantage of a diagonal wind in the first half and for long periods tested the Clare defence which proved quite sound.
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The home side started with a run up the right by Steven Wright and Lamont made further ground but Armoy cleared.But Wasson made a break and top scorer Clarke went clear to get a try for a 5-0 lead. However Armoy hit back and from a penalty they were unlucky to hit a post and their full back was just wide with an attempted drop goal. Eventually Campbell and Wasson cleared the threat from the visitors but Armoy again had a chance from a kick ahead which was just too strong. A strong tackle by Lamont halted another attack from the North Antrim men and Wasson cleared.Then Reynolds broke up the left and Armoy were penalised but Wasson was wide with the kick. A minute later he missed again kicking into a tricky wind but on the third attempt as Armoy were off side he slotted over the kick to put his side 8-0 ahead. However on the restart Wasson allowed the ball to bounce on his own line and an Armoy player was up to score a deserved try which cut the home lead to 8-5 at half time.
In the second half McDonald came on at fly half and made good use of the wind to give the Fourths better field position. In fact in an early attack McDonald was nearly in-Armoy were caught off side and Wasson slotted over the penalty for an 11-5 lead. Next a run from Clarke took play into the opposite 22 and when the ball was recycled Watson chipped ahead to enable Clarke to go over for his second try not converted by Wasson. As the Fourths now dominated play Gaston made ground and the ball was moved by McDonald for a chance to Reynolds who was held up at the line.But the Clare backs again ran the ball wide and this time Reynolds did get over for a try near the corner for an unconverted try to go well clear at 21-5. The Fourths kept up the pressure and could have added to the score but credit to Armoy who never gave up until the end. In the other semi final Cookstown beat Ballymena 5ths and will play the Clare 4ths on 5th May at a neutral venue in the final. Near the end Moore came on at prop and Andrew replaced the injured Morrow.
Ballyclare 4ths-J.Wasson;T.Clarke,N.Lamont,S.Barnett,N.Reynolds;A.Campbell (J.McDonald),C.Watson;D.Montgomery (T.Moore),J.Barnett ,S.Crawford;T.Fletcher (A.Breen),S.Wright;H.Gaston,B.Logan,P.Morrow (L.Andrew).
YOUTH FINALS
Ballyclare Under 17 XV last week played Armagh in the Ulster Shield final and did really well to win 38-15. They had tries from Taylor Gill (2); Michael McAllister (2);Adam Watt and Jack Gowdy with 2 conversions from Billy Gillen and 2 from Lee Apsley. The man of the match was prop forward Scott McComb in this game which was played in Cookstown and the Clare boys were well on top despite being reduced to 13 men for some time. Also last week the Ballyclare Under 13 team played in the Shield final against a strong Lisburn side and went down 41-0-their man of the match was centre Paul McGookin.The Annual Awards night for the Youth teams will be on Saturday 19th May in the clubhouse.
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