Bruff v Ballymena Sat 15th October
Ballymena travelled to meet Bruff RFC for the first time in the history
of the two clubs and in doing so had to deal with the late withdrawal of
a number of players after training on Thursday.
PICTURED:
1)Bruff Chairman, Richard Leonard, and BRFC Chairman, Neil Patton exchange gifts to mark the occasion of the first meeting of the two clubs in the AIL
2)For the first time in the history of the Club, three brothers were on the field of play at the same time. Pictured are Joel, Ricky and John Andrew
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF I XV v BUCCANEERS
Injuries to Conor Carey, Stephen Mulholland, Ross Hackney, Luke Marshall
and Mike McComish meant that quite a different team took to the field in
Bruff, than that which played at Eaton Park the previous week.
With the weather not providing ideal playing conditions, Ballymena
started briskly and won a penalty after two minutes, but it drifted
just past the outside of the upright. Not long after a good tackle by
Pritchard, off the back of a ruck, lead to turnover ball and the
impressive new signing Richard Aingworth broke through to open the
scoring after five minutes. O’Hara kicked a good conversion from out
wide to leave it 0-7 to Ballymena.
Bruff bounced back with some force from their big pack but Ballymena
defended well to clear. Shortly after Bruff won a penalty and Brian
Cahil send it wide. Bruff continued to press and after 15 mins won
another penalty, this time going for the corner. They won clean ball but
in the following attack they knocked on after further good defence from
Ballymena.
Back Bruff came a third time,and this time they made it count with their
forwards powering over, their no 8 Carroll getting the touchdown
which Cahill converted, to draw them level.
They took the lead shortly after with a penalty from Cahill on 22mins.
This was followed on 25mins with another opportunity missed.
Ballymena came back at Bruff with a number of phases inside their half
and in the advance towards the 22 Blane McIlroy side stepped his
opposite number to go in under the posts which with the straight-forward
conversion brought the score to 10-14 in Ballymena’s favour.
Bruff bounced right back with another period of pressure and a number of
phases in the Ballymena 22 before their winger Andrew Cashman crossed
in the corner. The conversion was missed but the home side edged ahead
15-14.
On the approach to the interval Ballymena were on the attack again,
winning a penalty which they kicked to the corner. The following play
led to another penalty which O’Hara converted to leave the visitors
ahead 15-17 at half-time.
The second period began with a ding-dong battle in the middle of the
park, and 15mins into the half Ballymena, after some good work, extended
their lead through the impressive Aingworth who broke a couple of
tackles to score his second try of the match. O’Hara converted to make
it 15-24.
Shortly afterwards John Semple kicked ahead and in the chase Aingworth
steamed past, and as his hat-trick looked certain, he gave the last touch
marginally too much and the ball beat him to the dead-ball line.
On 60mins history was made in the Ballymena team with the
introduction of 18 year old John Andrew, joining his brothers Joel and
Ricky on the pitch, three brothers playing together for the first time
in the Club’s AIL campaign.
Bruff won another penalty on 63mins which Cahill converted, and two minutes
later they scored another try through replacement John Carroll, which
Cahill converted to put the home team ahead once again, the score now
reading 25-24. What a game!
Both teams threw everything into the last quarter and after a very good
move by Alan Smyth where he jinked jinked his way past three Bruff players to
fine Ricky Andrew who made a good break down the line. He found Aingworth
in support and another try look on, but the ball was lost forward. From
the resulting scrum Bruff advanced again and just as a worried look came
over the faces of the loyal Ballymena support, Semple intercepted
brilliantly to run the length of the pitch to score a fourth try, which
he converted himself. The score on 75mins 25-31 in favour of Ballymena.
Semple sealed the game on 81mins with a penalty to extend the lead to
25-34, leaving Bruff needing two scores. The referee played on and Bruff
were awarded, and converted a penalty on 82mins to gain a losing bonus
point, However it was a heroic performance from the Ballymena men who
returned home with a second win on Munster soil in three weeks.
Les McCracken
