Ballyclare 1st XV returned to Qual.2 league action at the Cloughan against local rivals Larne in a game sponsored by Newtownabbey Borough Council.
The home side brought in Clotworthy,Byers and Tweed as the changes from the previous week against Queens. Larne had wind advantage in the first half but seldom looked like threatening the home line as most of the attacking play came from the Clare with Baird and Jackson making ground. Larne scrum half Agnew was just wide with a penalty from half way before Baird broke clear to force the visitors off side but Lawther`s kick was also wide. Larne had another penalty but from a good position it was off target. Then a strong run by Logan and Morrow gave Lawther the chance to put Clotworthy in for a try which was not converted. In a rare break by Larne they were awarded a penalty which Agnew kicked to cut the home lead to 5-3. But another surge by the industrious Jackson saw Lawther making a break and Jackson finished the move with a try which was converted by Lawther .The home pack was now dominating especially at the set scrums and drove to the line where Morrow was held up just short. The next Clare attack from Weatherup could have brought a score only for a forward pass. Amazingly Larne who seldom got into the home 22 cut the lead to 12-6 with a penalty from Agnew. Then a strange decision gave Agnew another chance which he kicked to make it 12-9 a scoreline that flattered the visitors at the interval.
CLICK HERE FOR I XV PICTURES V LARNE
Larne had their best spell in the opening minutes of the second half and the pressure led to a penalty for Agnew to level the scores. This served to make the White Hares really motivated and they dominated the rest of the game. A Lawther penalty gave them the lead and a break from Jackson ended with Logan getting a try converted by Lawther for a clear 22-12 lead. The young out half next easily beat his opposite number to to get a try that he also converted as the Clare were well on top. Then ,From a scrum, skipper Logan drove over for an unconverted try. Ballyclare kept up the momentum and from the next scrum the back row made ground to enable Morrow to race over near the corner and Lawther converted for a 41-12 lead. Minutes later following a lineout and maul scrum half Morrow nipped in for his second try. Close to the end Clotworthy hacked through on half way and followed up to get a try with Lawther adding the points to leave it at 51-12 to the Clare men–a very convincing win.
Ballyclare–G.Byers;G.Weatherup,J.Jackson,G.Clotworthy,J.J.Baird; N.Lawther,C.Morrow; A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay; M.Crothers,G.McKinstry;R.Tweed,W.Logan (capt),P.Robinson.
RE-UNION FOR BALLYCLARE TOWNS CUP WINNING TEAM
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE Re Union
Ballyclare turned the clock back twenty five years on Saturday when past Presinent and former captain George McClure organised a re union of the team which had won the Towns Cup back in 1986–almost all of the side which had beaten Rainey 18-4 at a very wet Ravenhill ground were present for the pre match lunch prior to the game versus Larne at the Cloughan. George even managed to borrow the ancient trophy from the present holders Clogher Valley for the day! On that Easter Monday in 1986 the Clare had three tries from the evergreen McClure who also had got the solitary Ballyclare score in the club`s first Towns Cup final back in 1973,winger Quigley and scrum half Whincup plus two conversions by centre Smith and one by fly half Beattie. On Saturday the successful team of `86 were able to reminisce about a very good spell for the 1stXV with finals of the Towns and Junior Cups as well as victories in the All-Ireland Cup at Arklow. The cup winning team in 1986 was–Nigel Simpson;Ian Quigley,Les Smith,George McClure (capt),Jim Lyle; Martie Beattie,John Whincup; Ian McIlwrath,Phil McClean,Harry Knipe; Ken Scott,Peter Carson; Richard Todd,Willie Hutchinson,Gareth Lenaghan; Subs-Dessie Kane,Robin Byers,Ronnie Hassard.
CLOGHER VALLEY 2nds 8 BALLYCLARE 2nds 7–
The Seconds under skipper Jonny Birkmyre made the long trip to Fivemiletown to play Clogher Valley and collected lock forward Michael Stevenson at the Airport as he had just arrived home from a holiday in Portugal ! The game was played in really poor weather conditions with the Clare boys facing the strong winds in the first half but they did make a bright start in the opening quarter with some good work from scrum half Andrew Purdy in his first game. But after twenty minutes Valley went 3-0 up from a penalty. The Seconds were well served by Reid in mid field but the home winger broke clear to score in the corner for a 8-0 lead at half time.
After only five minutes of the second half Purdy broke clear from a ruck and Stevenson following up dived over for the try with Russell kicking the conversion to make it 8-7. The Seconds were now on top but unfortunately the ball was dropped or knocked on at vital times and chances were missed. Purdy was halted near the line after a good run and later a break from King almost led to a score. The home team held on for a very narrow win while ther e were good performances by Purdy,Crawford and Gillan in the backs plus McCartney and Smith in the pack for the Seconds.
ANTRIM 1st XV 17 BALLYCLARE 4th XV 35
—The Fourths ,who have been winnin g each week by a huge margin were given a closer tussle by Antrim away. The Fourths played into the wind in the first half but did well to build up a 20-5 lead by the interval. There was a hat trick of tries from John McDonald plus one from Steven Wright but none were converted into the strong wind and Antrim got one score. The fourths lost prop Gary Ashe who was replaced by Lyle Andrews. In the second half Antrim hit back with two tries as well as a conversion to reduce the Clare lead to 20-17. Then man of the match Nial Lamont broke clear to get a try out wide and John wasson kicked a penalty to give the fourths a 28-17 lead. Near the end Bruce Logan raced in for a try and Wasson converted to make the win more clear cut. There were outstanding performances from Jonny Barnett,McDonald and Lamont as the team remains undefeated.
YOUTH RESULTS–
On Saturday the Under 17 Xv went down 29-5 at home to a good Instonians team who got an early unconverted try before Ballyclare levelled with a score by Billy Gillen. CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES Courtesy of Gleno Photo
They then lost Ryan Elliott due to a yellow card. Despite good play up front by McComb, Scott and Gillespie in the second half and from Gillen and McCallion in the backs there were a few errors to allow Inst to break through for three more tries and they won comfortably. Ballyclare will hope to re organise for their next league game against Rainey on saturday week.
Ballyclare`s Under 15 XV had a good 32-12 win over Ards. The backs always created problems and Ryan Larmour broke clear from half way to get the opening try. Then Matthew Coulter went in for the next score after good work by the pack.Ryan Larmour went in for his second try converted by Thomas McGookin to lead 17-0. Near half time Adam McGookin went in at the corner to take a 22-0 interval lead. In the second half the pack were well on top and Larmour got his third try while Coulter also got over for his second . At this stage the subs were given a run and Ards did manage a couple of late scores with one conversion. This was a good team effort and the man of the match was Thomas McGookin.
Week-end Fixtures
—Friday 28th–4th XV v Holywood 3rds (home) 7-30p.m. Saturday 29th-1st XV v Lisburn (away); 2nd XV v Portadown 2nds (home); 3rd XV v Quins 3rds (home); Under 19 XV v Carrick (away).
