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BALLYCLARE COLLECT ANOTHER BONUS POINT WIN
Ballyclare 1st XV returned to Qualifying 2 league action on Saturday when newly promoted Randalstown were the visitors to the Cloughan for a match sponsored by Newtownabbey Council.The only changes on the home team were the return of Rainey at number eight and Jackson in the centre. This game was stopped several minutes short of normal time with the Clare well in control of a 41-7 lead.
In the opening half Randalstown had slight advantage of the wind but were under early pressure from a pacey and slick home backline.Within minutes from a scrum Morrow broke and put Jackson away for a try which was converted by Byers. `Town threatened but Lawther was almost away in a sharp counter attack. The visitors pressed into the home 22 and really should have scored.They were rewarded when their centre managed to break the Clare defence for a try that was converted to level at 7-7. At this stage the visitors were quite impressive as their fly half made ground even though Clotworthy managed to race clear to half way. Ballyclare had a few errors in handling but a strong break from fly half Lawther allowed Clotworthy to get in for a score that Byers could not convert. Again randalstown hit back and were almost in. However a break out by Logan found Weatherup who raced clear from half way for a fine solo try and Byers added the points for a 19-7 lead. AS the home team exerted pressure into the opposite 22 a break from Lawther gave Byers the chance to get the fourth and bonus point try which was unconverted. Just before the interval number eight Rainey was halted short of the line so it remained at 24-7 at half time.
In the third quarter the trend of strong Clare attacks continued and a surge by Rob Boyd ended with Baird stopped close to the line. Then Scrum half Morrow was caught and injured through a degree of physicality in a ruck but after treatment he gamely played on. The Clare gave the best possible response to this as Lawther agaain scythed his way through the `Town defence to put Clotworthy over for another try also not converted as Byers missed.Randalstown then lost a man with a leg injury and the game lost much of the earlier sparkle. A run from Weatherup created the opening to get Jackson over the line for another unconverted try and the visitors were further weakened when they had a player sent to the bin. A good run from Baird took the Clare back into the 22 and Jackson and rainey took play close to the line but Wylie failed to hold a pass with a try on. But Rob Boyd drove back into the 22 and eventually the three quarters moved the ball wide for flanker Weatherup to get the touch down and this time Byers did manage the conversion to take it up to 41-7. The game stopped soon after this despite a fair few mi nutes still on the clock. Really Ballyclare could have had a win by wellover half a century of points had kicking and finishing been that bit sharper but the team continues to be in astrong position after three bonus point wins from four starts. Up front Rob Boyd ,Logan,Weatherup,Rainey and McKinstry got through a lot of work while behind the scrum Lawther,Clotworthy and Baird impressed with both pace and guile.
Ballyclare -G.Byers;j.J.Baird,J.Jackson,G.Clotworthy,C.McIntyre;N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay (capt),R.Boyd,G.McKinstry;G.Weatherup,M.Rainey,W.Logan.
