OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE DISPLAY TAKES CLARE INTO SEMI FINAL
Ballyclare 1st XV produced the outstanding result in the quarter final of the Junior Cup at the Cloughan on Saturday when they maintained a great two year record of no fewer than seven wins against Qualifying 1 opposition. The visitors were Current joint leaders of Qual. 1 and All Ireland Junior Cup quarter finalists Clogher Valley in the game sponsored by Highgate Auctions and the match ball was also sponsored by Willie Shaw of 116 Enterprises.The game attracted a big turnout to the Pre Match Lunch and also the largest crowd of the season to the Upper Cloughan Ground and proved a veritable cliff hanger as Ballyclare produced a superb defensive third quarter display of tackling as the Tyrone men pressed for a try that never came so the underdogs held on to a narrow 8-6 lead to record one of the most welcome victories of some time.After their narrow win and less auspicious display away to Academy in the league, the team on Saturday showed they could rise to the occasion and will play in the semi final on Saturday 30th November.Coach Bob Young had to make changes and a new half back partnership of Collie Morrow at fly half and man of the match Adam Wardrop at scrum half sponsored by Club President Garth Johnston had a big say in the result though this was a true team effort with the pack fronting up to their heavier opponents well in set and loose play allied to great defence by the three quarters .
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The scoreline just about sums up a great encounter and the visiting supporters acknowledged that the White Hares deserved the win mainly for their gutsy defence. On a cold day but good for such a game it was the visitors who showed early intent with typical driving from their pack but Wardrop cleared to the 22. Valley again came forward as Morrow just could not get a kick in and a strong run from Falconer took his team well into the Clare half and their pack with B.J.Wilson to the fore reached the home22. Another drive from their pack saw the referee penalising the Clare for hands in the ruck and Best slotted the kick to lead 3-0. Following a deep kick from Valley`s Armstrong, Wardrop returned the high ball with interest and Greer followed up and was just halted close to the left corner. Ballyclare attacked agaainthrough Laughlin deep into the visitors 22 leading to a scrum. A powerful break from the well controlled scrum by Wardrop resulted in the home scrum half going in for the try on the left -his fifth score in four games. He was just wide with the attempted conversion.
The Clare kept up the pressure as Morrow kicked deep but the Valley forwards made ground and the home side were penalised for a ruck offence for Best to give his team a renewed lead at 6-5 from the penalty. They had another penalty against the sgressive home eight but Wardrop did well to clear the danger and took play back into the opposite 22. Ballyclare were doing well at the lineouts through skipper Rob Boyd and Graeme McKinstry and ball came back for Greer to make ground . Wardrop broke clear in mid field and beat the first defender and chipped ahead and only the bounce of the ball halted another try.Ballyclare finished the half on the attack as Morrow and Clotworthy looked for another openi ng but at 6-5 the big crowd knew everything was still to be played for in a tense affair.
Clogher made a strong start to the second halfto get into the home 22 only to be penalised and Clotworthy cleared well.Wardrop intelligently chipped aheadto the opposite 22 and as Morow tried to cut oinside the Valley had a man yellow carded and were penalised. Wardrop made no mistake with the kick to edge his side 8-6 in front. Despite being a man down Valley lifted their game forcing Morrow to clear his lines. The home side tried to run the ball wide but lost posession and Valley kicked a penalty up into the home 22. Kirk who had come on for the injured Laughlin, managed to race away up the right and Graeme McKinstry up in support was halted close to the line. The Tyrone men now back to a full complement managed to steal the ball in the loose and drove downfield to get what seemed a kickable penalty but went for the corner. Their pack drove from the lineout with B.J.Wilson twice inching towards the Clare line only to be halted by Logan,Weatherup,Skipper Boyd and both McKinstry`s. Again from the next scrum Valley tried to rumble over but were held out b y a period of heroic defence from the home team. Ballyclare after soaking up all this pressure from the visitors won loose ball and quickly raced to half way where they were awarded a penalty. From fully 45 metres Wardrop attempted a difficult kick and was well short. Now into injury time Clogher tried to run the ball but Morrow cleared and the home team held on for what was a narrow win against more than useful opposition. This was a great team effort with powerful tackling up front from Weatherup,Logan,Jordan McKinstry and Lawther while Rob Boyd and Graeme mcKinstry proved strong in both loose and lineouts. All the backs did well with the combination of Morrow and Wardrop having a big impact on the game and Clotworthy showed up well at full back while Crawford proved very effective in mid field.
Ballyclare -G.Clotworthy;J.Greer,N.Laughlin,D,Crawford,J.Reid;C.Morrow,A.Wardrop;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,D.Lawther;R.Boyd (capt),G.McKinstry;G.Weatherup,W.Logan,J.McKinstry; Subs M.Kirk (on for Laughlin), C.Jones;
