Ballyclare High School 1st XV made history last term as they became the only unbeaten school rugby team in Ulster and also created what must be a school record.
From September until just before Christmas in December the team coached by New Zealander Dan Soper had a fantastic run of thirteen victories many against the very best school teams in the country. Possibly it was a case of unlucky thirteen but it is necessary to add another five great wins out in New Zealand last summer when Ballyclare High actually had two teams on tour in that country. This means that the side had racked up a wonderful run of eighteen wins. Sadly all good things have to come to an end and in the first week of the Christmas holidays a fixture against Schools Cup holders Ballymena Academy which could not be played on a snow covered pitch in Ballyclare was transferred to a very wet ground in Ballymena. The Clare side was rather rusty as they had not played for a few weeks but also failed to show the form which had brought so much success earlier in the term and the historical winning run ended.
Ballymena Academy 15 Ballyclare High 5
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In this game Ballymena proved stronger in the first half and built up a lead which proved too much for a Clare team which for a change struggled in the lineouts .
From an early scrum the home side broke clear to get a try which was converted to lead 7-0. Then at a later scrum Ballyclare lost posession to allow Ballymena to get in at the corner and go further ahead .They added a penalty for a 15-0 lead and though the visitors did make the home 22 they did not have the sharpness to get over the line. In the second half Ballyclare came more into the game and from a period of pressure were rewarded with a try by Johnny Darling which Holmes could not convert. But the pack struggled to win much ball from the lineouts and therefore could not set up many serious attacks . At the end it was 15-5 to Ballymena and the proud Clare run was over. According to coach Soper this was a somewhat disappointing performance but credit has to go to a good Ballymena side who will try to defend the Schools Cup later in the season.
Ballyclare High 17 B.R.A. 5
Last week Ballyclare returned to winning ways with a much improved performance against local rivals B.R.A. at home. The Belfast team missed an early penalty before the home boys won clean scrum ball and Andrew Butler raced in from fully sixty metres for an excellent solo try in the corner. Jonny Holmes kicked two penalties to make it 11-0 at the interval.In the second half Ballyclare were well on top and on several occasions got up to the B.R.A. 22 only to drop a pass or knock on when scores were on. However the lineouts were much better and had the chances been taken the scoreline would have been at least doubled.Holmes managed to slot over two more penalties to take a 17-0 lead. The visitors did have a good last ten minutes and deservedly scored a consolation try which left the final score 17-5 to Ballyclare. There were good performances from Darling at number8; Douglas in the centre; Butler on the wing and Craig at prop.
Ballyclare`s next game is away to Regent House followed by a trip to Omagh Academy and then a tough test against Clongowes Wood School in Dublin. The Schools Cup campaign is due to get under way on 5th February with Ballyclare seeded among the top eight teams and coming in at the third or fourth round stage.
