Ballymena 4’s hosted Instonians 3’s in the Forster Cup semi final and after 100 minutes of play the game ended 24-24 and a replay will be needed.
Ballymena took to the field to play the much bigger and more experienced Instonians who currently play a league above the home side. Ballymena started the better of the two sides with their backs running hard at the visitors but school boy errors or a bad final pass saw several chances go begging. The game was about 10 minutes old when Ballymena’s Mark Moffett was sin binned for not using his arms in a tackle. With the braid men reduced to 14 men, Instonians used their extra man to stretch the home side resulting in a try in the corner. The conversion was missed, 0-5. Ballymena took the game back to Malone and after several phases Andrew Knox crossed the line but the referee ruled the the ball was held up. Ballymena now back to full strength went on the attack again when Donny Mckendry won the line out and after a short maul Rodney Hall and Mark Moffett broke of and barged their way over the line and again the referee ruled the ball was held up. From the resulting scrum another Ballymena attack was stopped by an illegal tackle which resulted in a yellow card for the visitors. From the resulting penalty Ballymena reduced the the lead when full back Karl Morris slotted the ball over, 3-5. Ballymena finally took the lead after a break from Donny Mckendry who released Jonny Mckeown and with one defender to beat he popped the ball out to hooker Cory Millar who crossed the line for the first of his 3 tries. Karl Morris added the extras and bringing the first half to a close, 10-5. At the restart Instonians won a line out and their much bigger pack started a rolling maul that could not be stopped as the crossed the line. The conversion was missed, 10-10. The momentum was with the visitors and it wasn’t long before they were on the try line again were a forward managed to to put the ball down to take the out right lead. The conversion was added, 10-17. Ballymena answered straight back after several phases allowed Cory Millar to sprint clear for his second try. Karl Morris added the touch line conversion, 17-17. Ballymena ran the ball back from the restart and when number 8 Donny Mckendry broke the line it looked as if the braid men were about to extend the lead but as he went to set the ball down under the posts a tackle from the Instonians scrum half knocked the ball out of his hands. With only 4 minutes left on the clock Instonians broke down the wing but a covering tackle from Mathew Ervine and Donny Mckendry brought an end to the attack. Unfortunately this was to be Donny Mckendry’s last play as the left the field due to a serious gash on his knee. With the score 17-17 the game went into extra time. In the first half of extra time Ballymena drew first blood when Cory Millar went over to complete his hat trick of tries. Ballymena defended the rest of the half bravely. The second half of extra time seen both teams put their bodies on the line but with 3minutes left on the clock Instonians broke though the defence to score. The conversion was added and the game finished 24-24. A replay will now be organised and both teams will do it all over again. This was a great game that showed grass roots rugby at its best. both sides commented afterwards it was the hardest and toughest game they had played in all season.
Ballymena 5’s travelled to Ballyclare 4’s in the other semi final of the Forster cup and booked their place in the final winning 15-7.
Ballymena 5’s are the reigning Forster cup champions but new they were going to be in for a difficult game as Ballyclare always put out a very good cup side with many ex first team players returning for the cup run. It was Ballyclare that came flying out of the traps taking the ball deep into the Ballymena territory and after a prolonged period of play their pressure paid off when they crossed for the games opening try. Former ulster junior out half, Clotworthy added the touch line conversion, 7-0. From the restart it was Ballymena’s turn to pressurise the home side. Ballymena set up attack after attack on the try line but Ballyclare stood strong and repealed them all. As half time was approaching Ballymena released the backs in a well worked move which saw winger Davy Gaston dive over the line for a try. Mathew banks added the extras to tie the game up at 7-7.
In the second half Ballymena always looked the most likely to score but Ballyclare’s scrambled defence stopped many Ballymena attacks. The clock was ticking away and with less than ten minutes left this game looked as if it was going to go to extra time until winger Stephen Johnston danced down the touch line to break Ballyclare’s hearts as he touched down in the corner. Mathew Banks missed the tricky conversion, 7-10. From the restart Ballyclare came back strongly but outstanding Ballymena defence prevented them from scoring. With the last play of the game Ballymena got a breakaway which end with a penalty being awarded. After some verbals from the Ballyclare forwards the referee marched them back a further 10 meters which brought the ball within kicking distance of the posts. The the last play of the game Mathew Banks split the posts to add 3 points to finish the game 15-7.
