LATE CLARE SURGE BRINGS BONUS POINT WIN
Ballyclare Rugby Club 1st XV returned to Qualifying 2 league action at the Cloughan on Saturday after the euphoria of the win against Clogher Valley in the Junior Cup quarter final the previous week. The opposition were local rivals Carrickfergus and for this derby game coach Bob Young was again forced to make several changes with Michael Kirk, Paul Morrow and Jonny Reid coming into the backs with the return of Nial Lawther to fly half and Collie Morrow to scrum half. The game was sponsored by Danske Bank and there was another big turnout at the pre match lunch. The match ball was sponsored by Cordion Ltd.
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BALLYCLARE 29 CARRICK 15
The visitors, who had a big win the previous week, had wind advantage in the first half and were soon inside the home 22 to win an early penalty which was kicked by Whittle. Ballyclare responded by driving from a lineout but were penalised for not releasing. The Carrick pack hit back with Ferris and Marsden strong in the loose. Despite an obvious forward pass in the movement they did force another penalty and Whittle gave his side a 6-0 lead with a well struck penalty. The first telling move from the home team was a strong run by Greerand Lawther put in a fine kick to the corner. Three times the visitors were penalised and each time Lawther went for field position for the pack to try and drive over. Eventually the ball came back for Lawther to make the opening and it was moved wide to put Kirk in at the corner for a try and Collie Morrow was just wide with the conversion. The Clare now came forward as Lawther chipped deep and Greer had astrong run into the 22 but was halted by the impressive McKinney. At this stage Logan was injured but carried on and minutes later Clare skipper Rab Boyd was down with a shoulder injury but also stayed on despite obvious pain. Lawther was taken out unfairly and the visitors accordingly penalised for Morrow to kick the home team into a narrow 8-6 lead. The Clare had another good break out by Greer but just lost possession and Carrick had a flanker off injured temporarily. The Seasiders came back well forcing Collie Morrow to clear to touch.They ran the ball well into midfield and forced the home pack off side for Whittle to kick them back into a 9-8 lead. For the home team Reid did make ground but lost the ball though Carrick had strayed off side. Morrow was just wide with the kick on the stroke of half time.
With the wind in the second half it was expected that the home half backs would kick for position. But when well placed they lost a lineout as R.Boyd could not be lifted but in the next attack Clotworthy appeared to be taken out in the air but no penalty accrued. G.McKinstry made ground back into the Carrick 22 as the Clare probed for another score. The visitors defended well in midfield and Ballyclare began to lose ball in the loose. This enabled them to gain territory and at the next ruck the home side was penalised for Whittle to kick the penalty and a 12-8 lead. Minutes later Weatherup was penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck and was yellow carded. The resulting penalty was slotted over by the reliable Whittle to give his team a clear 15-8 lead and there was concern among the home support. A strong run from deep by Carrick`s McKinney threatened until Clotworthy put in the first of several fine clearances to change the balance of play. At this stage a melee broke out detween the packs which resulted in two yellow cards to Carrick men and one to Wylie. When play resumed N.Lawther kicked to the corner and the home pack surged twards the line for David Lawther to drive over for a try converted by C.Morrow and it was now 15-15. Play now was at a stalemate and thoughts were heading to a draw -home skipper Rob Boyd now had to go off with a bad shoulder injury as Morrow kicked into the 22. A very good back movement initiated by N.Lawther saw him beating three defenders to go over for a score converted by Morrow to lead 22-15. Play had swung back to the home team stung by the earlier physical clash and then a great run by Clotworthy almost to the line – these were the turning points of a tough derby affair. With the tails well up now Weatherup, back on made a telling run into the 22 and fly half Lawther raced in on the left and found Greer with the winger going over for that vital fourth try in the corner and Morrow added the points to make it 29-15 – a massive turnaround by a team a man short. In the time that was left Carrick had a fair amount of ball and tried to run from deep and did reach the home 22 but all to no avail. For the home team Logan and both flankers worked really hard and both half backs stood out with strong running from Greer and Clotworthy. A special word has to go to the returning Paul Morrow whose tackling was most effective as usual.
