BALLYCLARE 1ST XV CRUSH DONEGAL TEAM
Ballyclare 1st XV welcomed back teenage fly half Nial Lawther after a period of injury for the last home league game in Qualifying 2 of the season and he showed good enough form to contest for the man of the match award nominated by Derek Moore. He also got the back line moving to produce an impressive 69-17 win over Letterkenny who are bottom of the table and candidates for relegation-this showed how badly he hed been missed at a time when the team suffered two defeats to badly hurt the hopes of promotion. The game was sponsored by Flogas but it was very disappointing that no one from the County Donegal club attanded the pre match lunch.
This game was played at the Upper Cloughan in fine conditions and early pressure from skipper Logan led to a run from half way by Reid with Logan finishing off the try converted by Morrow for an early lead.Letterkenny tried to hit back but Weatherup and Logan took play back to the opposite 22 and after a break by Jackson it was Weatherup who went over for the second try. Then a powerful run from half way saw j.J. Baird beat three tackles to score and Morrow converted to go 19-0 ahead. The Donegal men did well to get a try back but a break from lawther gave Baird the chance to go in for his second try also converted by Morrow . Near the interval Logan was held up on the line but Reid made ground to put Clotworthy over and morrow added the points to make it 33-5 at half time.
Early in the second half good work by Lawther enabled Clotworthy to race in for his second score . Then a break from Weatherup resulted in Clotworthy scoring again and Morrow added the points to take the score up to 45-5. The one way traffic continued as Weatherup ran away to go in near the corner. More attacking play led to Reid being held up but Baird broke clear on half way for a superb score which was converted by Morrow to go 57-5 clear. All credit to the visitors who never gave up and forced a try in the corner. But after a ruck near the line Morrow nipped over to get a try and convert. Once again the Donegal side did enough to get in at the corner but ballyclare had the last word as Baird went in for his fourth try to make it 69-17 and another 5 points to the team who are only 1 point behind Omagh prior to this week`s game in Co.Tyrone.
Ballyclare Team-G.Byers;J.J.Baird,G.Clotworthy,J.Jackson,J.Reid;N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay;M.Crothers,N.Crothers;G.Mckinstry,W.Logan (capt),G.Weatherup.
SECONDS LOSE AT HOME
The Clare Seconds took on a strong Coleraine 2nd XV who are into the final of the Crawford Cup but on the day the Ballyclare team did enough in the first half to suggest that they could get the win only for Coleraine to dominate much of the second half. The Seconds made early progress as Trevor Clarke went in for try which was converted by Chris Gillan before Coleraine managed to get on the scoresheet. Good work by scrum half Purdy helped make an opening for new player Chris McIntyre to go in for a try. The visitors also got an unconverted try so it was 15-10 at the interval. In the second half the Seconds held on with two further scores from each of the centres -Gillan and david Crawford with Gillan kicking the conversions. However Coleraine had more power up front and forced four more tries to run out as comfortable winners at 41-26-but there was a lot of good rugby played by both teams.
THIRDS RECORD ANOTHER BIG WIN
Tony Turner`s Thirds may now be out of a chance of promotion but can finish in a high league position in Junior 3. Thet were at home to Coleraine 3rd XV who really showed little interest in contesting this game having called off the home game with the Thirds the previous week. The Clare side went into an early lead with a try from scrum half Adam Wardrop who had an outstanding game, Further pressure led to tries by centre Lewis Campbell and also Bob Wasson plus conversions by Ivor Baine and though Coleraine also managed to get a couple of tries it was 19-10 to the Thirds at half time.
In the second half the home team were well on top as Wardrop nipped in to get two more tries to make him the man of the match. They also had tries from the veteran forward Gareth Johnston,skipper Turner and Wasson as well as conversions from Baine. This took the final score to 46-13 for the Thirds who were well served by Wardrop,Phil Moan,Watson and Turner in a strong performance.
FOURTHS KEEP WINNING
Last Wednesday night the 4th XV played Antrim 1st XV in the Minor league under the Cloughan floodlights and kept their unbeaten tag though the second half was closely contested. But in the first period the Clare boys built up a strong 31-0 lead. Antrim came more into the game in the second half but the Fourths ended as 50-14 winners -one of the few sides in Ulster rugby to have such an accolade. On the night the tries were scored by Neil Reynolds with a hat trick,Harry Gaston (2), Stephen Wright,Noel Smith and Nial Lamont plus 5 conversions from John Wasson. There were good performances up front by Trevor Fletcher and Paul Morrow but the man of the match adjudged by Ronnie Lamont was John McDonald.
Saturday Fixtures–First of all the 4th XV play Malone 5ths at the Cloughan on Wednesday night (7-30 p.m.) Saturday-1st XV v Omagh (away)-a vital game and support requested;
2nd XV v Omagh 2nds (away) 3rd XV v Portadown 3rds (home) 4th xv v Civil Service 2nds (home). Clubs have been informed by the Branch that the season has been extended due to the very wet winter which forced off several fixtures. For the 4th XV the semi final of the Ravenhill Cup will now be on 21st April and the McCambley Cup final on 28th April.
