On Saturday Ballyclare 1st XV recorded another strong bonus point win at the Cloughan against Lisburn to remain in second place in Kukri Qualifying 2 just one point behind U.U.C. who had a good win over Carrick. It Now looks as if the league winners will come from U.U.C.,Ballyclare or Omagh with a couple of months of the season to go. Ballyclare started on Saturday in heavy rain which made the surface tricky for both sides. Ballyclare had wind advantage as the Lisburn pack made a strong start. However there was an early yellow card for flanker Coburn but the home pack managed to compete well enough in the scrums and the loose despite being a man down.
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Lisburn had a flanker injured and he played on only to later suffer what seemed to be a fractured ankle and both teams returned to the dressing rooms as they awaited the arrival of the ambulance.From a penalty Lisburn kicked to the home 22 forcing Clotworthy to clear. Again the visitors made ground and this time Russell cleared.A break by the busy Jackson led to a penalty but Morrow was just wide. From another Lisburn surge Clotworthy cleared well and skipper Logan made ground to half way as McKinstry was almost over but Weatherup was up in support to get the opening try which Morrow could not convert. Minutes later Coburn raced clear to the 22 and jackson made the opening to enableClotworthy to get a try converted by Morrow. The home side was now beginning to dominate the scrums and a powerful run from Baird took play deep into the visitors half . It was at this stage that Losburn lost their flanker and Morrow was just wide from a penalty for off side. A strong burst by Boyd almost brought the prop a score but it was still 12-0 at half time.
Early in the second half Morrow kicked the Clare into a strong attacking position but handling errors were compounded with the slippery ball and the wet ground conditions.But centre Clotworthy raced clear to score the third tryout wide.Jamie Crothers broke deep into the 22 and Russell moved the ball out for Logan to go in for the bonus winning try and a 22-0 lead. Another Russell run made the chance for Logan to go in for another score. As the home side proved too strong at the end Crothers raced away again and Clotworthy went over for yet another unconverted try and a 32-0 lead. Near full time Weatherup made ground and Bairrd finished off the move with a try which was converted by Morrow to leave the final scors at 39-0 to Ballyclare. Once again the pack did well in the set pieces and the loose where Coburn,Logan and Weatherup got through a lot of work. Behind the scrum Jackson ,Clotworthy and Baird were always a threat to the visitors defence. The game was sponsored by Davison and Associates and the pre match lunch was attended by eighty people-the best turn out so far.
Ballyclare Team-J.Reid;J.J. Baird,J.Jackson,G.Clotworthy,J.Crothers;I.Russell,C.Morrow; A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay;M.Crothers,G.McKinstry;G.weatherup,W.Logan(capt),C.Coburn
Results–Harlequins 3rd Xv 5 Ballyclare 3rd XV 15
Ballyclare 4th XV 86 P.S.N.I.2nd XV 0
