Ballyclare Rugby Club 1st XV suffered a narrow undeserved defeat away to fellow front runners for Qual. 2 league honours Omagh on Saturday and for the second consecutive season lost out on the chance of promotion to Qualifying 1. The manner of the loss was hard to take as the team had been the better side in the second half and though 11-10 down had a penalty in the closing minutes which Collie Morrow appeared to have kicked albeit close to the top of the right hand upright but the Ballyclare touch judge did not raise his flag as he reckoned that the ball had gone over the top of the post though the Omagh man did raise his flag considering the kick to be good. The referee had to make a decision and the three points were denied so the Clare team ended as losers and Omagh remain on course as the only club to try and prevent U.U.C. from taking the title and promotion. The view of the incident from each side of the pitch was totally different and really the Ballyclare touch judge who has been a referee himself for many years was closer to the action than anyone and gave a fair adjudgement of a tricky decision.
On the day the Clare fielded a full strength side and played into a stiff breeze in the first half when Omagh exerted most pressure from the start. But Wearherup did make ground only to be disposessed and the home side surgrd back into the Clare 22 where much of the half was played. Eventually Clotworthy cleared the threat up to the home 22 but the Tyrone men resumed the offensive forcing great defending from Logan, McKinstry and Weatherup with Jackson also tackling powerfully.
