Ballyclare 1st Xv coach Bob Young made five changes for the last league game of the season against Larne who had won well against Enniskillen the week before.Larne really needed something from the game to try and keep them safe but Clare started with real intent when Weatherup made ground to force Larne off side and Smith kicked the penalty to go 3-0 up.The home team continued to press and the pack was halted on the line as McKinstry was unlucky to loose possession and Larne cleared.But a strong surging run from Henderson allowed Smith to storm in for the opening try and just miss the conversion.Within three minutes a break from Rob Boyd and Kirk gave the pacey Smith to follow up for his second try that he converted for a 15-0 lead. From the restart a great run from Kirk from half way led to fine sole score in the corner to go further ahead.Larne managed to come back when R.Boyd was injured but a break from Loughlin took play back to the Larne 22 and Cusack took it on. Then Smith broke clear on half way to race in for his hat trick and converted for a 27-0 lead. At this stage Larne did well to counter with a try in the corner from their winger only to see Logan next racing away and Morrow took play into the 22 to put the improving Weatherup over for the try which was converted by Smith so it was 34-5 to the Clare at half time. CLICK HERE for superb shots from this game from Gleno Photo / D. Irvine – once you are there scroll down for the ablums
Larne started the second half well but were halted by a good tackle from Cusack though the visitors wing broke away and should have scored on the right.At this stage they lost a prop and Cusack was stopped near the visitors line.Rob Boyd as usual was up in support and put Kirk in for a try with Smith adding the points to go 41-5 clear. Larne then lost veteran full back Marshall injured but did well to keep competing. Smith kicked deep and followed his own kick and was held up on the line as was Morrow. The pressure had to tell and from the next scrum Logan picked up to go over for a try not converted by Smith this time. ballyclare were now well in control and a good run from Irvine released Cusack for yet another score converted by Smith and it was now 53-5. Despite now being men down Larne managed to get in for atry from their winger but the home team replied by racing away and Jordan McKin stry was up to get a good score with Smith again adding the points.Now fully on song the home team showed pace as Greer raced in to score and Smith kicked the conversion. Again Larne got back with a try that was converted to make it 67-17 and they just wanted another to get that vital league point. But a break from Morrow enabled Greer to go in for his second score with Smith doing the needful to lead 74-17.Still it was not over as a good run from Greer allowed the hard working Rob Boyd to get the final try and Smith`s conversion left it at 81-17 -by far the biggest win of the season which leaves Ballyclare with more points for in the league even though they finish as runners up. On the day Smith was outstanding but credit must also go to the young players who came in notably Greer,Kirk,J.McKinstry and Irvine all of whom played well. The target for next season is obvious and after pushing strongly for promotion in three years the present season has been rewarding but surely it will pay off in 2013-14 as the club reaches its 65th year.
Ballyclare -R.Smith;M.Weatherup,S.Cusack,N.Loughlin,J.Greer;J.Irvine,C.Morrow;A.Boyd (capt),A.Wylie,R.Henderson;R.Boyd,G.McKinstry;M.Kirk,W.Logan,J.McKinstry;
Ballyclare 2nds 57 Larne 2nds 0
As the fixture was being played for the Hall Trophy which is determined by aggregate scores the result from the 2nd Xv game merely emphasised the greater firepower of the Clare club.The Clare 2nds always proved too strong in both set pieces and loose with an outstanding performance from Paddy Reid in the scrums.They had a try fro Kirk Johnston which he also converted and this was followed by no fewer than four tries by scrum half Adam Wardrop who was in excellent form. The other tries came from Gareth Byers, 2 from centre Steven Beasant and 1 for Simon Reid. Skipper Chris Gillen managed to convert four of these tries and the game was halted well before normal time as the scoreline was so emphatic.
