CLARE END LEAGUE CAMPAIGN WITH WIN IN DONEGAL
Ballyclare 1st XV completed their Qualifying 2 programme on Saturday when they travelled to Letterkenny who are bottom of the League and due to be relegated. But on the day the Clare team showing a number of changes with the introduction of Peter Ferguson,Matt Dailly,Rory Henderson and Nigel Moore struggled on a narrow pitch at times in a game in which the referee strangely found it difficult to control and amazingly felt the need to issue as many as seven yellow cards -four for home players and three for Ballyclare men. Overall it was ascrappy affair with Letterkenny showing plenty of desire and application if not skill whereas the visitors failed to produce the flair that this season has brought a series of big wins.In the first half it was Letterkenny who got ahead from a couple of penalties and a converted try against a Clare try created by Ferguson who made the chance for Clotworthy to go in with the conversion from Morrow. This meant the home team had a 13-7 lead at half time which was a big change from the game at the Cloughan between the same teams a few weeks ago when Ballyclare scored 69 points.
In the second half Ballyclare showed more resolve and eventually Reid outpaced the home defence to go in for a try near the corner to cut the home lead to 13-12. Eventually Morrow slotted over a penalty to give his team a 15-13 lead and minutes later he kicked another one to edge 18-15 in front -a lead that the side held to the end. There were at least two good scoring chances in the second half not taken- one when Clotworthy just failed to give the pass at the right time and another when the pack drove to the lone and just missed grounding the ball. There were several good tackles by Moore and good work up front from Dailly. The Clare,after challenging for promotion,will probably finish in third place behind u.U.C. and Omagh but it could have been so different but for three games which should not have been lost along the way.
SECONDS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE
If the Seconds had not won a number of games earlier in the season in Junior1 they would now be looking at relegation as they have failed to get a win for more than two months.On Wednesday night at the Cloughan they went down to Ballynahinch 3rds after having made a bright start in the first half with a try by Noel Smith and a conversion and a penalty from Gillan.But the Hinch took control in the second half after the Seconds had lost a couple of players. The Hinch ran out fairly easy winners. On Saturday the Seconds were away to the bottom side in the league Cooke 2nds but still failed to raise a winning flag. At half time they did have a lead of 14-5 with tries from Ian Heaney and Ross Scott converted by Gillan. But Cooke managed to get a couple of score sin the second half to win 17-14.
THIRDS LOSE AFTER ANOTHER INJURY
Tony Turners Thirds have suffered over the past few weeks with injuries which have damaged their hopes and agaain on Saturday they lost young forward Gareth McCon nell in four minutes with an eye injury. Despite this the team had a good first half with wind advantage though Ballynahinch 5ths got the opening try before Chris Gawn levelled with a good score. Even though the Co.Down men got the next score skipper Turner went in for atry converted by Artie Campbell to go 12-10 in front.After a run from Chris Hall there was a second try by Turner for a 17-10 lead. But in the second half the Hinch made good use of the wind and forced three tries against the 14 men of the Thirds to go on to win 32-17. There were fine performances from Turner,Crawford and Irvine in the pack plus Hall and Lewis Campbell in the backs.
ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR FOURTHS
The Fourths remain unbeaten and of course have lifted the league title in Minor East and on Saturday trvelled to Belmont and beat Grosvenor 4ths 56-0. The tries were scored by John Wasson (2),Harry Gaston (2),Darren Montgomery,Cavan Watson,Aaron Breen,George Peel who was the man of the match and Trevor Clarke plus four conversions and a penalty shared by Wasson and Watson.
Saturday Fixtures-On Wednesday the Thirds play Bangor 2nds; On Saturday 1st Xv v Dungannon 2nds (away) in Conference; 2nd Xv v Carrick 2nds (home); 3rd XV v Lisburn 3rds (home); 4th XV v Hollywood 3rds ; On Sat.21st April 4thXV play either Innishowen or Strabane 2nds in ravenhill Cup semi final at home.
