Donaghadee v Ballyclare 11/10/14
On Saturday the Cloughan men visited Donaghadee, a place Ballyclare have always found results difficult to find. With Donaghadee yet to get a league win this season Ballyclare travelled with a degree of reserved confidence. On another fine autumnal day, with perfect playing conditions, Coach Campbell was forced to make changes to his team, with Jordan Mckinstry starting in place of the injured Chambers.
Ballyclare exerted early pressure and quickly established dominance in scrums and lineouts. An early chance of a kick at goal was turned down in favour of going for the corner. Donaghadee cleared their line and the chance of an early lead passed. Donaghadee progressed towards Ballyclare’s line and looked likely to score. Ballyclare turned the ball over and ran out from deep in their own 22. Winger James Greer progressed to over half way before being stopped by covering Donaghadee defence. Supporting Colin Morrow continued the attack, passing to Clarke who scored. Gareth Byers continued on from last week with a fine conversion.
Continued dominance from Ballyclare soon produced their second try. Winning their scrum, Ballyclare worked the ball through two more phases before Niall Lawther ghosted through the scrambling Donaghadee defence to put Ballyclare 12-0 up. A penalty, kicked by Byers completed the first half scoring.
Donaghadee employed their tried and tested game plan when playing down the slope in the second half and kicked a penalty within a couple of minutes of the restart. Donaghadee started brightly in the second half but were curtailed by great defensive work by Jordan Mckinstry and Willie Logan.
The official from Munster, on a referee exchange with Ulster Branch had a good game with the whistle. He did however take exception to some Ballyclare play, showing yellow cards to 2 Ballyclare players in quick succession, leaving Ballyclare with 13 players on the pitch for 8 mins.
Byers having another great game scored Ballyclare’s 3rd try finishing a move that started in midfield with Clarke breaking the Dee defence, the ball was worked through hands quickly, opening a gap for Byers to exploit and score. He converted his score, to give Clare a 22-3 lead.
The Ballyclare back line were producing some flowing rugby and quickly added the bonus point winning, fourth try. Michael Kirk completing another sweeping attack by Ballyclare in the corner.
Dee on a rare excursion into Ballyclare territory forced a converted score of their own, when a missed tackle allowed them in.
David Clarke rounded the match and a great personal performance off with a second score, wrong footing the Dee fullback and going over between the posts. He converted his own try giving Ballyclare a resounding 34-10 victory.
Jordan McKinstry produced a fine display in the forwards with Clarke excelling in the backs.
Ballyclare: (15-9, 1-8) Gareth Byers, James Greer, David Clarke, Stephen Beasant, Michael Kirk, Niall Lawther, Colin Morrow, David Lawther, Andrew Wylie, Al Boyd, Graham McKinstry, Robert Boyd, Jordan McKinstry, Gary Weatherup, Willie Logan
Replacements: Jordan Brownlee, Ryan Tweed
