CLARE ADVANCE IN TOWNS CUP
Ballyclare 1st Xv currently have the Provincial Towns Cup in the trophy cabinet as joint winners from 2013 and on Saturday made several changes for the first round tie at Hamilton Park against a surprisingly combative Ards team before easing to a 24-10 win. Coach Bob Young brought in Smith,Byers ,C.Morrow and Reid in the backs plus Holmes in the front row -the team seemed to be rather rusty not having played since 21st December. But an early mid field break by Crawford had support from G.McKinstry who drove over on the right for the opening try well converted by Morrow to go 7-0 up. The Clare now pressed deep into the home 22 as a run from J,McKinstry made ground and the ball was sporead wide for wing Greer to go over on the left for an unconverted try When Ards did threaten N.Lawther cleared well and a run from Coburn took the holders back to the home 22 but the ball was lost and Ards countered to force a poenalty kicked by their fly half which made it 12-3.At this Stage the Clare scrum was strong and there was a chance to Byers but the ball went to ground. But in the next attack Byers followed up his kick mahead to gather and put skipper Rab Boyd in for a try near the corner with Morrow unlucky not to get the conversion. Just before the break a strong run from Weatherup who kicked ahead looked to bring another score only to see the visitors penalised harshly so it remained at 17-3 at half time.
In the second half Ards came more into the game as the more experienced of their players tried to make ground. But a run from Weatherup took play into thehome 22 and Lawther kicked to the corner with Crawford held up just short of the line.Though Byers seemed to have lost possession the ball was recycled by the backs and centre Crawford got in for the try converted by Morrow to increase the lead to 24-3. Finlay now came on for D.Lawther as Holmes made groiund with a good run from Smith and Byers taking play back to the 22 as N .Lawther wa sillegally impeded and as the penalty was taken quickly Greer was halted on the home line. However the ball was strangely lost and the Ards right wing broke from his own half to get a fine solo try converted by the out half . This gave the home side some slight hopes as it was now 24-10.When Ards made progress again the visitors tried to run the ball from deep and evetually Morrow cleared. A surge from Coburn took play up field but he lacked support and Weatherup was halted by an unorthodox tackle. Right at the end Coburn was held up in the home line as the visitors had recovered from a brief spell of pressure by Ards. On the day this was not the best performance by the Clare who now have two most vital league away games starting on Saturday away to Carrick. On the positive side the come backs from injuries by both Smith and Byers should help for future games. There were sound performances from R.Boyd, Holmes, D.Lawther Coburn and J.McKinstry up front plus Crawford and Morrow in the backs.
