Ballyclare 1s Vs Ards (Towns Cup)
BALLYCLARE EASE THOUGH TO SECOND ROUND OF CUP
Ballyclare 1st XV had a break from the tussle at the top of Qualifying 2 on Saturday when they took on a mediocre Ards 2nds team at the Cloughan in the opening round of the Towns Cup. Even though the Clare men were missing five regulars they still proved too strong for the County Down opposition and ran out as 45-0 winners. But the fact of bringing in other players plus fielding two subs had a knock on effect for the Seconds who were at home to Coleraine 2nds in the Crawford Cup and accordingly went down narrowly 14-11. The Thirds were outgunned at Deramore by Belfast Harlequins 3rds in Junior 2 and the Fourths match at home to Ballymena 5ths in Junior 6 was halted prematurely when a neck injury to a Ballymena player necessitated the calling of an ambulance. This match was not long started and the visitors were leading 7-0 but it will have to be rescheduled.
BALLYCLARE 45 ARDS 2nds 0
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For this Towns Cup tie sponsored by Kare Bears, the visitors fielded a team with a few players with experience alongside younger players while the Clare were missing skipper Finlay,Hall,Rainey,Byers,Jackson and J.J.Baird who sets off this week for England to try his hand in rugby league. After only four minutes a break at pace from half way by Gary Weatherup took him past the Ards defence for the opening try which was converted by Smith to go 7-0 clear. After this play became bogged down as the Clare made errors not having played for three weeks and this halted promising moves . Moore, Morrow and Wallace were all halted close to the visitors line. At times long looping passes did not give the wide players the opportunity of running from deep but from a quickly taken short penalty Wallace nipped in for a try converted by Smith to double the lead. Then another surge from Weatherup and Rob Boyd almost had Moore in but for a high tackle. Next Weatherup was stopped on the line and unfortunately Moore dropped the ball with the line at his mercy so it remained 14-0 at the interval.
Before half time it was necessary to switch on the floodlights as the afternoon became darker. Morrow kicked his pack up to the 22 and but for an error by Loughlin a score may have developed. But Smith slotted over a penalty as Ards were off side to go further ahead.The visitors then had their best spell as the pack got into the Clare 22 for the first time but a tackle by Moore halted any progress. The home side introduced Wylie in the pack and Clarke on the wing. Fly half Lawther broke fromhis own 22 and beat the cover for a fine solo try that was converted by the reliable Smith for a 24-0 lead. In the next attack Weatherup was halted by a high tackle and Lawther kicked deep to get his pack into the opposite 22 only for a handling error to halt a score. Again the home forwards drove towards the line and this time the ball was moved wide for Clarke to power over in impressive style with Smith adding the points.
Ards tried to come back but were halted by a strong tackle by Logan and Lawther cleared to touch. Further strong running by Clarke enabled Weatherup to go in for his second try also converted by Smith to take the lead up to 38-0. The home side remained on the offensive and good lineout work by McKinstry resulted in Logan getting in for a deserved score out wide and Smith slotted over the kick to take it up to 45-0. With six minutes plus some injury time remaining the game ended . Ballyclare were not really tested and could so easily have won by a much greater margin -Ards did at times compete well in the scrums but near the end were being pushed off their own ball. This Saturday Enniskillen come to the Cloughan for a very important league game and will make Bob Young`s side work much harder.
Ballyclare -R.Smith;N.Loughlin,S.Cusack, C.Gillan,M.Weatherup; N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,C.Wallace,R.Henderson;R.Boyd,G.McKinstry;G.Weatherup,W.Logan,N.Moore. Subs -A.Wylie,D.Clarke
The second round draw of the Cup should be made this week and hopefully the Clare will have another home tie.
BALLYCLARE 2nds 11 COLERAINE 2nds 14-
This Crawford Cup tie had been twice postponed and this time the Clare team was not so strong as originally selected but gave a good account of themselves in a game where there were a number of strange decisions. In the first half there was little between the sides as Coleraine managed two penalties against one from Beasant so it was 6-3 at the interval.
The Seconds started well in the second period with CHris Hall racing in for a try out wide to edge 8-6 in front. However the visitors next kicked a penalty to regain the lead and later added an unconverted try for a useful 14-8 lead. With supposedly four minutes left according to the official Beasant went for the posts instead of trying to get a five pointer -he was successful to make it 14-11 and then it was stated that there was only one minute remaining! Obviously there was no time to get another score and Coleraine had held out for the win.
BELFAST HARLEQUINS 3rds 30 BALLYCLARE 3rds 11
-Despite the scoreline in this league game Mark Surgenor was pleased wth the efforts of his team which also had suffered from the changes up above and the knock on effect. Quins fielded a strong team but the Clare boys fronted up well in the set pieces and only for a few handling errors would have been closer in the opening half. But the city team managed to get through for three unconverted tries before the lead was cut by Alexander who kicked two penalties. The home team also had a penalty so they led 18-6 at the break. In the second half Quins got an early try but the Clare side came back with a try from Johnny Reid. However the home sidescored again to win comfortably 30-11. The Thirds lost Crothers in the second half injured but there were good performances from Reid,Phil Moan and Ivor Baine.
SATURDAYS FIXTURES -1st XV v Enniskillen (home) -the Skins are the only team to beat the Clare in the league and it is vital that this is reversed on Saturday with a big home support. There will be a pre match lunch -contact Willie Shaw;
4thXV v Portadown 4ths (away)
