Ballyclare Rugby Club had three games against opposition from Grosvenor F.P. and came out on top in each one. At the Cloughan on Wednesday night the Clare Fourths-a very experienced team racked up a 55-3 win over Grosvenor 4ths and on Saturday the Thirds had a welcome 32-10 win against Grosvenor 2nds but at Belmont on Saturday the White Hares 1st XV came from behind for a late, narrow win in Qual.2 over Grosvenor 1st XV by 35-33.
GROSVENOR 33 BALLYCLARE 35
CLICK HERE For Pictures PART 1 & 2
For this league game the Clare made four changes following the disappointing loss to Carrick notably at fly half and full back with the promotion of Nial Lawther and Gareth Byers. The visitors dominated the opening quarter and from an early kick by Lawther the backs broke to the home twenty two with Reid almost in. Further pressure led to a penalty at a lineout but Morrow was just wide. He made amends two minutes later when Grosvenor were offside and the kick put the visitors 3-0 ahead.
The home centre was just wide from apenalty on half way but the Clare again ran the ball and reid missed a chance of a try but Morrow slotted the penalty when the home team was adjudged to be off side. The Ballyclare scrum was at times under pressure but the backs well orchestrated by Lawther pressed for openings. Good work by Logan and Morrow made ground and Moore finished the move with a deserved try converted by Morrow to go 13-0 up. However Moore was injured and had to go off-the home side had also lost a man. Despite great tackling by Jackson the home backs broke through for a try which was converted reducing the lead to 13-7 . A late break from Lawther put Jackson away but the home defence recovered to keep it at 13-7 at the break.
In the second half Grosvenor had more of the play down the slope and easily disposessed the visitors to break downfield and go in for a converted try and lead for the first time 14-13. The Clare hit back as Lawther beat the home defence and put weatherup in for an unconverted try to regain the lead at 19-18. This was the start of a see-saw affaair which had both setgs of supporters on tenterhooks to the end. It was the turn of the home side as they raced away from half way to go over again for a converted try and lead 26-18. Then from a lineout won by Rob Boyd the Clare backs ran well and Byers found Weatherup who got over with Morrow adding the points to make it 25-26. Then after a surge by Logan the home team was penalised and the reliable boot of Morrow made the score 28-26 to the White Hares.The lead was short lived as a series of weak tackles by the visitors enabled Grosvenor to take the lead from a converted try at 33-28 with only a few minutes left. Following a deep kick by Lawther ,Boyd won clean lineout ball and a quick transfer allowed winger King to race down the right touchline and go in for a score with a superb conversion from Morrow. This gave the Clare the narrowest of wins–the first of the season plus a bonus point but it had been a game riddled with errors by both sides–for the neutral it certainly was an exciting affair.
Team G.Byers;G.King,J.Reid,J.Jackson,G.Weatherup; N.Lawther,C.Morrow; A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay; R.Boyd,M.Crothers;C.Coburn,W.Logan (capt),N.Moore; Ref. Clem Bassett.
