On Saturday morning in excellent conditions at Hillmount Avenue Ballyclare High 1st XV recorded another deserved win 24-14 against a useful Limavady Grammar side which started and finished strongly. The result keeps the Clare boys undefeated and the victory came despite being forced to make several changes due to injuries including both regular half-backs being out but all credit to Jack Irvine and Simon Beattie who were promoted with the latter having a fine performance and always being a threat going forward. But it was the visitors who scored early on when their winger got in at the corner for an unconverted try much to the disdain of coach Dan Soper.Ballyclare replied with a penalty which gave them a lineout inside the opposite 22 only to be penalised when in a good position.But Beattie kicked deep and from the ensuing scrum Peter Ferguson raced clear to score out wide and make it 5-5. Limavady were still in contention and were just wide with a penalty following a lineout offence. Into the second quarter the home pack began to make ground and pressed close to the visitor`s line. The pressure eventually told when Beattie used pace and strength to go over for another unconverted try. A penalty by Ervine made it 13-5 to Ballyclare at the interval.
Early in the second half the home pack surged into the 22 and Beattie got over for the try which was converted by Ervine. The visitors came back with a penalty. However the Clare forwards again made ground up the right side and hooker Marc Logan got the touchdown to increase the home lead. Next Beattie followed a kick ahead and was unlucky not to get another try. But Mitchel McComb broke away from near half-way to race in for possibly the try of the game and make it 24-9. The Co.Derry side had a late comeback with an unconverted try to make it 24-14 at the end but Ballyclare had done enough for the win.
The previous week Ballyclare had a 21-15 win away to Belfast High with tries from Eddie McKee,Jonny Holmes and Chris Millar all converted by Holmes. Prior to that the team did very well to beat Belfast Inst. 20-14 the scores coming from tries by Peter Kennedy, McKee, and McComb plus two conversions and a penalty by Holmes.
Also on Saturday the school 3rd XV had a good 40-0 win over their Limavady counterparts.
