Ballyclare Rugby Club 1st XV went down 22-18 away to Bangor last Saturday week after havin g lost Out half Ian Russell to a shoulder injury in the pre match warm up and despite the pack dominating for long periods were unable to get a winning score. That result kept the Clare men in third place in Qualifying 2 but really put more pressure on Saturday`s home game against league leaders U.U.C. to try and get a win. Despite leading early on against the Students in the game sponsored by Reid, Black and Company, the Clare side went down by a single point 11-10 as U.U.C. dominated the second half. This is a similar story to last season when for long periods Ballyclare were in a three way race for promotion with C.I.Y.M.S. and Donaghadee both of whom made it to Qualifying 1. Now in 2011-2012 it looks as if the title will go to either U.U.C. or Omagh both of whom have edged clear of the Clare in the present league table.
On Saturday Ballyclare had wind advantage in the first half but a well organised and very fit U.U.C. team made ground to put the home side under pressure forcing Clotworthy who was at put half to clear.A tackle by S.Morrow halted another attack and Byers managed to clear.But the pressure from the visitors pack led to a penalty to U.U.C. but Murphy missed. Next Clotworthy kicked to the 22 and after the visitors were penalised. The home team made ground through Clotworthy and Weatherup to put prop Boyd over for a try which was converted by Collie Morrow. But weak tackles by the home team allowed the visitors to make ground and it took a superb covering tackle by Clotworthy to stop a U.U.C. try. Then Collie Morrow kicked ahead and Byers followed up to be held up near the opposite line. A break b y Morrow and Weatherup was promising but the ball was kicked away.Another run from Baird looked promising but Reid failed to hold the pass. Following a clearance by the Students Reid was stopped near the line and U.U.C. temporarily lost a player to injury. But the Clare failed to make use of the situation and U.U.C. broke away to get a penalty for failing to release only for Millar to miss from a good position so it was still 7-0 to Ballyclare at half time.
In the second half the league leaders had wind advantage and soon were to win more ball though the first chance fell to Morrow who missed a penalty from a good position. The next U.U.C. attack led to a penalty and this time Ball slotted over the kick to make it 7-3. The Clare came back immediately and a fine penalty from Morrow gave his side a 10-3 lead. An error by Baird almost let the visitors in but Logan recovered posession. However the home team failed to clear the danger and U.U.C. moved the ball out wide to their speedy winger from Blackrock and he beat the Clare defence to score on the left side with the conversion wide . This made it 10-8 and the students started to exert more pressure. Yet a long range penalty by Morow was well off target after the Clare pack had made ground. Again an error in defence enabled the visitors to make ground into the home 22 but Clotworthy did well to clear.But the Clare pack was penalised at the next ruck and this time Ball again was on target with the penalty to take the lead at 11-10 for the first time. From this stage of the half it was the league leaders who dominated and only for strong home defence especially by Logan,Coburn,Jackson and Clotworthy the margin could have been greater. Clotworthy cleared to half way but even though the home team tried to run the ball from deep positions they were unable to get out of their own 22 and the U.U.C. held out through close to ten minutes of injury time for a win which will have a very considerable bearing on the promotion stakes. For the Clare there were strong performances by Clotworthy,Jackson,Johnston,Coburn and Boyd.
Ballyclare Team-G.Byers;J.Reid,J.Jackson,S.Morrow,J.J.Baird;G.Clotworthy,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay;K.Johnston,M.Crothers;G.Weatherup,W.Logan (capt.),C.Coburn.
FOURTHS REACH RAVENHILL WITHOUT PLAYING SEMI FINAL
Ballyclare 4th XV unbeaten all year were due to play Antrim on saturday in the semi final of the McCambley Cup but it turned out that the Antrim opponents in the earlier quarter final had lodged a protest on unregistered players and it resulted in the Clare team having a bye so they will play the final at Ravenhill possibly on 28th April .
THIRDS KEEP UP PROMOTION HOPES- Tony Turner`s Thirds continue to have a great season with real hopes of promotion from Junior 3. On Saturday they fielded a strong team against Donaghadee 2nd XV and managed to keep up the pressure with a 36-5 win having been 14-5 ahead at the interval. They were able to go over for six tries from flanker Chris Gawn , centre nathan Loughlin, full back Andy Watson,wing Stephen Reid, centre david Crawford and scrum half Adam Wardrop with three conversions by Gawn.
Also on Wednesday night the 4th XV had a 43-10 win over Larne 3rd XV in the Minor league. they had tries from Trevor Clarke (2), Bruce Logan,Artie Campbell,Stewart Barnett,Gareth Smith and Lyle Andrew with four conversions from John Wasson.
WEEK END FIXTURES– On Wednesday night the Clare Legends (Veterans) will play Larne at 7-30 p.m. On saturday the only game scheduled is 4th xv v Malone 5th XV (away)
