Ballymena 1’s hosted Bruff 1’s in the A.I.L and won 29-14
This week their seemed to be a buzz around eaton park as their was no longer any pressure on the young Ballymena side. Talking to Glen Boyd, one of the 1st team managers the day before he told me he had a good feeling and that Bruff were beatable.
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From the kick off Ballymena were all over the visitors. It didn’t take long for the forwards to turn over Bruff at the breakdown. From this Ballymena set up a 10 minute period off constant pressure and gained territory. Bruff worked hard to keep Ballymena out.
At 15 minutes and against the run of play Bruff were awarded a penalty with their first venture into the braid men’s half. The Bruff outhalf dispatched the ball between the posts, 0-3.
Ballymena regained the restart and put together a well worked move that was just stopped short of the Bruff try line. Bruff were able to clear their lines deep into Ballymena territory.
At 20 minutes Ballymena won a penalty at a scrum in their own half. Ill discipline and back chat from the braid men saw the referee reverse his original decision giving Bruff the penalty. Bruff made Ballymena pay by adding 3 more points, 0-6.
Ballymena again re-took the restart and went on the attack by spreading the ball out wide. With Ballymena backs eating up ground, it was only a last gasped tackle that stopped them from scoring. At 23 minutes and in the Bruff 22 the dominate Ballymena forwards took a series of crash balls which ended in Connor Smith going over to the right of the posts. Davy O’Hara added the conversion, 7-6.
From the restart Ballymena knocked the ball forward to give head and feet to Bruff. The Bruff scrum forced Ballymena to give away yet another penalty. Bruff re-took the lead with resulting kick, 7-9.
Ballymena regained the ball from the kick off and again started to move the ball about as the Ballymena backs were starting to find room to cut up the Bruff defence. With Ballymena now camped in the Bruff’s 22, a super grubber kick through the Bruff defence saw a mix up at their dead ball line that allowed Ulster’s Ricky Andrews to pounce on the ball to score. Davy O’Hara hit the post with his conversion attempt, 12-9.
From the restart Bruff got a chance to claw some points back with yet another penalty but this time the ball fell short of the crossbar. Ballymena then launched an attack from deep inside their own half spreading the ball from one side to another. Ballymena ball was flowing quick due to great rucking from the forwards to allow scrum half Davy O’Hara to determine the pace of the game.
At 37 minutes Ballymena domination, was awarded when tight head prop Mark Irving crashed over in the corner. Davy O’Hara slotted over a great kick from the touch line. Half time 19-9.
Ballymena started the second half strong and soon found themselves being awarded a penalty from repeat offences from Bruff in the break down. Davy O’Hara was on fine form and again slotted the ball over, 22-9.
At 50 minutes loose head Andrew Warwick had to be replaced after what looked to be a bad ankle injury. This saw replacement Jimmy Carson make his return to senior rugby after a injury had forced him to the sidelines for most of the season.
At 60 minutes after a lot of pressure on the Bruff line Ballymena were awarded with a scrum. Ballymena’s pack were so dominate by now the referee had no choice but to award Ballymena with a bonus point penalty try. Davy O’Hara added the easiest kick of the day for him, 29-9.
Ballymena found themselves with a man advantage as Bruff was shown a yellow card for desent after the penalty try was awarded. Ballymena were soon on the attack again but Bruff rallied to keep the braid men out with some great tackling.
With minutes left on the clock and Bruff back to full strength they found themselves in the Ballymena half. A great team move saw them score in the corner for the last score of the game. The conversion was missed. Final score 29-14.
This was a great game of rugby to watch were the Ballymena youngsters showed great heart and the rugby was played with passion and belief. These young Ballymena men have a big future together and through time will grow as a team.
Team A.Warwick, J.Andrews, M.Irving, D.Whann, D.Caldwell, C.Smith, W.McKay, S.Mulholland, D.O’Hara, M.Irwin, D.Montgomery, C.Patterson, R.Andrews, J.Foster, J.Nichol subs- J.Taggert, I.Vance, J.Carson, M.Rea, A.Hamilton
