BALLYCLARE STRENGTHEN POLE POSITION
After the disappointment on Tuesday night at Ravenhill of losing the Junior Cup final and their unbeaten tag to Ballynahinch 2nds, Ballyclare 1st Xv responded in the best possible way on Saturday at the Cloughan with a key 20-13 win in Qualifying 2 over second placed Academy. This maintains their position as league leaders with 8 wins out of 8 played and 36 points.The win for the White Hares came despite coach Bob Young making no fewer than six changes from the team that played at Ravenhill.
The Clare men started with real intent as G.McKinstry raced into the 22 and Clotworthy was halted near the line -the foodlights were required from the start on the shortest day of the year. Wardrop then halted an Academy forward and was injured but carried on later after treatment. A rather weak tackle from a home forward enabled the visitors to counter to the home 22 and when the home team was caught off side Kenny slotted the kick to give Academy a 3-0 lead. The Clare hit back strongly with skipper Boyd drivinf upfield and the pack surged into the 22 to enable Wardrop to break with N.Lawther and Clarke to give Baird a run to the right corner for the ope ning try which was converted by Clotworthy from near the touchline and a deserved 7-3 lead.
Clotworthy cleared well following an incursion by the visitors and lawther took play back to the opposite 22. Next Wardrop put a fine kick towards the corner and another hard run by Rab Boyd led to Baird racing in for his second try that was not converted. Then Kenny was wide with a penalty chance to the visitorsas they tried to stay in contention.Good work from Coburn fron scrums and rucks continued to take his side into attacking positions and Wardrop was almost in but lost possession close to the line. A well judged kick from Clotworthy took the home pack back to the Academy line but the visitors did well to hold out until the interval with Ballyclare deservedly 12-3 ahead.
Early in the second half Wardrop cleared well when the visitors pushed forward and Coburn again made ground towards the 22 leading to a penalty but from the tap skipper Boyd just failed to hold the pass. Academy replied by taking possession and their right wing Carson was almost in. Again a counter attack from the home side started with a break by Wardrop and Crawford and Clarke linked in midfied and G.McKinstry was up in support to go over on the right for the third try which Clotworthy could not convert as the Clare led 17-3. The Academy scrum now became more effective though they appeared to be able to manage several strange put ins. Following a penalty kicked to the corner their pack did well to drive over for a try that was convertd by Kenny to narrow the home lead to 17-10. But this simply acted as a spur to the home pack as the back row made ground upfield and from well won lineout ball by McKinstry the ball came back to N.Lawther who knocke dover a neat drop goal to increase the home lead.
Once again the busy Coburn made ground but was penalised but great recovery work by R.Boyd gave wing baird a run and he was halted close to the line.Then a run from Weatherup made ground up the right side but a late penalty to Academy was well converted by Kenny to make it closer at 20-13 that rather flattered the former Qual. 1 side. Into injury time Clotworthy kicked the home side back to the visitors 22but Kenny kicke dto the opposite corner to give his pack a late chance but they were outmuscled by the home backrow of Weatherup, Coburn and J,McKinstry as Ballyclare held on for the win just missing the 5 points that on the day they probably deserved.There were good performances from Coburn,R.Boyd,D.Lawther and both McKinstry`s in the pack as well as Wardrop, Baird,Clotworthy,Crawford and Clarke in the backs
Ballyclare -G.Clotworthy;J.J.Baird,D.Clarke,D.Crawford,J.Greer; N.Lawther, A.Wardrop; A.Boyd,A.Wylie,D.Lawther;R.Boyd (capt),G.McKinstry; G.Weatherup,C.Coburn,J.McKinstry;
