Ballyclare Vs Omagh in Powerade Towns Cup + match report BALLYCLARE REACH TOWNS CUP FINAL
Ballyclare 1st XV currently having their best season for some years in Qualifying 2 where they only had their second loss last week at Bangor who have edged ahead of the Clare for the first time , made up to some degree on Saturday past at Omagh`s Mellon Park with a 19-13 win in the semi final of the Powerade Towns Cup and will now proceed to Ravenhill on Easter Monday to play City of Derry 2nds in the final at 2-30 p.m. Coach Bob Young only had to make one change as hooker Andy Wylie sustained an ankle injury against Bangor so there was a return for captain Mo Finlay for his first game since late October. He is a prop but took over quite well at hooker following in depth training last week for his new role. The game was played in front of the largest crowd of the year at Mellon Park and the usually heavy pitch was in good shape. Omagh started at great pace and Ward pushed his pack deep into the Clare 22 from a penalty.From a lineout close to the visitors line Omagh surged forward but failed to break a resolute Clare defence. They had a second chance from a five metre scrum and were almost over as the home crowd made themselves heard. The pressure had to tell and eventually after nine minutes number eight Ferguson did well to get the touch down and Ward converted from a tricky angle to put the home side 7-0 up.
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Ballyclare hit back almost at once with a probing run by full back Smith but at the next lineout an error by Morrow led to a penalty for off side and Ward took the home team back to the Clare 22.However Logan and Rob Boyd gained possession and made inroads to over half way. As Clarke and Boyd kept the move going Omagh were penalised and Lawther took play into the home 22 for the first time . Good loneout ball by McKinstry who had cut short a holiday to play allowed Lawther to break through the home defence and go in for a fine solo try that was converted by Smith to tie the scores. Then McKinstry was adjudged to be off side and Omagh forced their nway back to the Clare 22 but Morrow cleared under pressure. Much of the play was now in midfield as Weatherup was unfortunate to lose possession going forward and Omagh threatened the visitora line but knocked on when well positioned. This allowed Lawther to clear and Clarke followed up to link with Smith in only the second incursion to the home 22. Clarke and Cuscack charged through the Omagh defence to put wing Loughlin over for a try that Smith could not convert but Ballyclare were 12-7 up. The home scrum half did well to take his pack deep into Clare territory but their out half tended to try and do too much on his own and was halted by the back row of Logan,Rainey and Weatherup. Smith recovered from an injury and Cuscack was stopped on the home 22 but Clarke was up in support to go in at the posts as Smith converted to give the Clare a very valuable 19-7 lead at the break.
In th e second half Ballyclare played up the slope and were penalised early on to allow Ward to kick to the corner and Omagh laid siege to the Clare line and had a second penalty but went for the lineout and drive. They were halted close to the line by a McKinstry tackle and then Weatherup saved a likely try with a taclke in the corner. Eventually this siege was lifted as Logan made ground but the visitors were penalised for what seemed too much chat and Ward slotted over the kick to cut the lead to 19-10. Smith cleared well as Omagh again came forward and Lawther tried to run the ball from deep.Finlay was penalised but stout defence from the Clare b ack row and centres halted the Tyrone runners and Lawther was able to clear from the next scrum.. However the home side made a late effort and got up to the Clare 22 from where Morrow managed to clear to touch but Ballyclare infringed and Ward`s penalty took it to 19-13 with time running out. Omagh had not been able to get over the line due to great work by Ballyclare and the visitors had a rare second half opportunity with a penalty on half way but Smith was just short. Mark Weatherup had a late run into the home 22and Rainey took play on but at the next breakdown with only a couple of minutes remaining Mo Finlay received a knock and had to be taken off with Turner replacing him. This was a sound defensive performance from Ballyclare as Omagh had to use three subs following injuries in a game where neither side took a backward step. For Ballyclare the entire back division was always sharper than their opposition while the set scrums after the opening ten minutes were controlled by the menfrom East Antrim. There were several surging runs from Rob Boyd,Gary Weatherup ,Willie Logan and Michael Rainey but the game was won in those three attacking plays from the Clare in the first half allied to great defence and the team fully deserves to go on to the final.
Ballyclare -R.Smith;M.Weatherup,D.Clarke,S.Cusack,N.Loughlin,N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,M.Finlay,
R.Henderson;R.Boyd,G.McKinstry;G.Weatherup,M.Rainey,W.Logan;
Referee -Richard Kerr
