The 1st XV deservedly beat an in form Ballymena 28-17 in the Ulster League.
Ballymena are having a good season and are currently lying in one of the promotion spots from division 1B of the All Ireland league.
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In contrast Instonians are lying in one of the relegation spots in Division 2A.
Ballymena must have come to Shawsbridge in confidence, even if Ulster had not released their academy players to them.
In the Instonians camp, training under the new coaching team was going well and even though we had lost heavily away to Dublin University there had already been signs of improvement.
On the Saturday against Ballymena these improvements continued:
The Scrum was solid
The Line-out great on our own ball and we attacked the Ballymena ball all day.
We saw the first try from line out/maul for many a day.
The ball was moved at the right times and with speed.
Defence got better and better, at times the Ballymena attack had no way through and finished by giving away a penalty or kicking the ball to us.
But best of all was our game management. When you see Nick Finlay calmly slot a drop goal; Seamus Mallon and Jamie Scott do sensible line kicks you know the team are thinking straight.
We nearly scored within the first 5 minutes, a great lineout was moved wide and Matthew Wright kicked on and was unlucky not to gather with the line at his mercy. But soon after that Nick Finlay calmly slotted a drop goal to start the ball rolling (3-0).
Ballymena were sparked into life and ran the ball at pace with their bigger team, but as was to be the case all day, our scramble defence tackled like mad. Their No4 spilled the ball when he had the line at his mercy, but eventually the score came. Instonians penalized at the ruck, kick to corner, lineout, maul and eventually the Ballymena No4 Daryl O’Kane barged over, conversion missed (3-5).
From a good restart we forced a lineout on their 10 metre line. Lineout won, moved wide and backrow Mark Jones made a good break, Ballymena under pressure gave away a kickable penalty. Nick Finlay, who had a great day at 10, punished them (6-5).
30 minutes gone and Inst stole a Ballymena lineout. Game on, the ball moved wide, again line breaks from Mark Jones and Garrett Walsh, before Matthew Wright in support finished it off to score by the posts, Nick Finlay converted (13-5).
From the Ballymena restart we showed our improved game management, a clever box kick from Michael Sargent was followed up by both Stephen Douglas and Gareth McClintock, Ballymena under pressure gave away a penalty. Kick to corner, line out won, good break from Seamus Mallon but turned over.
But we are now playing rugby in their 22. They mucked up and gave away another penalty. This time the lineout resulted in the long awaited driving maul and try. Mark Jones emerged with the biggest smile, so I guess he scored it. Nick Finlay had his kicking boots. (20-5)
In the last 10 minutes of the half both teams ran the ball at pace, we had more breaks from Jamie Scott and Andy McKeen. Seamus Mallon spilled a hard pass when he had broken the line.
Ballymena’s runners eventually made ground and a great move was finished by the hooker John Andrews. Conversion missed. (20-10)
Although Ballymena had other changes to score in the half, good pressure defence caused them to spill the ball and the halftime whistle blew.
Half Time – Instonians 20 – Ballymena 10
The second half had Instonians playing into the slight wind, but we started the better.
Within 10 minutes Jamie Scott was unlucky not to score, he knocked on with the line at his mercy.
From pressure at a Ballymena scrum, they were penalized for holding on and once again Nick Finlay punished them. (23-10)
The pattern continued with runs from Andy McKeen, Seamus, Dougie and Jamie. Eventually the ref had enough of the Ballymena infringements and their no8 was yellow carded.
Whilst Ballymena down to 14 we took our chances, the ball was moved through the phases, grubber kick to the corner from Nick Finlay and Gareth McClintock won the race. (28-10)
Twenty five minutes to go, Ballymena started to throw everything at us, could we hang on?
From a period of pressure Ballymena did score again, a lineout and a break midfield from their No6 Andrew Kerr, converted by their no 15 John Nicholl (28-17).
That was the final score, but only because both sides tackled well to the end.
The Rickey in the changing room was the best for some time.
If we continue to train and improve, there is more to be got from this season.
All the subs were used and all 20 players wore the shirt with pride.
Well Done.
Team 1 to 15: Paddy Dornan (Neill Simpson), Garrett Walsh (David McGovern), Alan Whitten, Matthew Irwin, Andrew Mairs, Mark Jones, Stephen Douglas (Paddy Bell), Andy McKeen, Michael Sargent (Nico Andress), Nick Finlay, Gareth McClintock, Seamus Mallon, Jamie Scott, Matthew Wright, David Parkhill (Josh Devitt)
A thanks to Ballymena on and off the pitch to the spirit with which the match was played.
Also thanks to the ref Gareth Dunlop for allowing the game to flow.
The biggest thanks goes to the team of coaches and players in the senior Squad for their efforts, keep it up.
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Ireland Ladies Rugby I XV Are playing England this weekend and need as much support as they can get – please watch the clip below and feel free to share it, they are on the verge of a great VICTORY & with Ulster representation!
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