Armagh Seconds come out on top at Ballymena
Armagh seconds travelled to Ballymena in good form after beating Malone seconds the previous week. There were several changes to the side as Lewis Morton came onto the wing, Andrew Winder played at 9 and Jason McMahon joined the front row at tight head with Brian McConnell at loose and Willie Martin played at 7. The game kicked off with Armagh having use of the strong diagonal crosswind and immediately put Ballymena under pressure inside their 22. From a lineout 15metres out, clean ball was taken and the forwards mauled their way up to the line with Willie Martin claiming the touchdown. Matthew Steenson added the conversion for an early 7 – 0 lead. With the backline keen to move the ball, Armagh were soon back in home territory again. On 25 minutes Stuart Lester was put away on a run by John Faloon and after side stepping the fullback, he scorched in at the posts for a converted try, 14 – 0 to Armagh. Ballymena started to get into their rythem and looked dangerous out wide. On 30 minutes they touched down in the corner for outhalf Drysdale to add the conversion and bring the score to 14 – 7. The Armagh lineout was in excellent form with the accurate darts of Gareth Warnock matched by Davy and Willie Martins and agility. Another attack by the visiting backline saw the ball moved out wide to fullback Timmy McNeice who went over in the corner on 35 minutes for an unconverted try, 19 – 7 to Armagh. The Armagh side were playing some excellent rugby with one to fifteen playing their part in a very entertaining game. Ballymena for their part always showed signs of being dangerous whenever their backs the ball. Following a good break by Jonny Allen, Stuart Lester went in for another converted try to move Armagh even further ahead at 26 – 7. Ballymena lost a centre through injury and just on the blow for half time Lester went in again after a rampaging charge by Con Oliver. With the conversion again by Steenson, Armagh had a very comfortable half time lead of 33 – 7. Changing round to face the elements, Armagh continued to play with the same game plan and very quickly realised that Ballymena harboured no notion of defeat. Finding it difficult to get out of their own 22, Armagh conceded a converted try on 48 minutes to bring the score to 33 – 14. The visitors were starting to lose their composure and instead of altering their game plan to suit the conditions, they continued to try and play an expansive game. A rare spell of pressure in Ballymena’s 22 ended with a 5 metre scrum disrupted and a scoring chance was gone. Other chances were spurned by either handling errors or lack of numbers at the break down. The home back line were by now running the ball from all over the pitch and one such breakout from their 22 ended with a missed tackle letting the home winger in at the corner for an unconverted try on 65 minutes, 33 – 19. With the calming influence of Captain Davy Martin and Jonny Allen, Armagh were able to step up their efforts and play out the rest of the game in the middle of the park.
This was the perennial game of two halves which saw some of the best rugby played by an Armagh second fifteen in the first half. However, in the second half Ballymena were able to take the initiative and pose a real threat to the Armagh line. Next up are Dromore in a conference qualifying 1 league game on Friday night in Armagh.
