On Wednesday night at the Cloughan the largest crowd of the season gathered for the key clash between Ballyclare and Qual.2 league winners C.I.Y.M.S. The Clare side needed the win to put pressure on Donaghadee for the second promotion place and on the night really should have come out as winners. But the Belfast team kicked a penalty in the final minute of injury time to steal the points in a 11-10 win. This was similar to the 22-20 win for C.I. earlier in the year at Belmont when the Clare boys had to play the second half a man down after out half Russell had been injured. On Wednesday night the home team,coach Bob Young and the supporters were gutted as Ballyclare were the better side but lost out when vital kicks did not go over.
At full time the big crowd of visiting supporters admitted that their team had not deserved to have won. Ballyclare play their last game at home to Donaghadee on Saturday 23rd and as the Dee also have to go to C.I.Y.M.S. and the Clare team has a clutch of bonus points there might be a chance of success but it could be a tight finish. In the match the previous week against Grosvenor Ballyclare failed to kick any penalty or conversion and there was a concern that in a closely contested game when a kick might be crucial it could well affect the outcome of the game. Unfortunately this became apparent on Wednesday against C.I.Y.M.S.
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BALLYCLARE 10 C.I.Y.M.S. 11
IN excellent conditions C.I.started strongly with the advantage of a slight breeze. But the Clare pack responded with great work in the loose by Logan,moore and Coburn to drive into the opposition 22 to force the visitors off side. Unfortunately from a very good position Clotworthy was just wide with the attempted penalty. Ballyclare were then penalised for an unfair tackle but their kicker saw his kick come off the post. The city side then made ground as Russell failed to find touch and they drove to the home line for their winger to get in at the corner for an unconverted try to lead 5-0. The Clare responded well and dominated much of the second quarter and the backs took play deep into the C.I. 22 with Clotworthy making a strong run. C.I. were again off side and from the ensuing lineout a clean catch by Rob Boyd saw the ball moved wide to allow J.J. Baird to power over for a try beside the posts. Incredibly a visiting player raced out to charge down Clotworthy`s conversion attempt so it remained 5-5. Twice again C.I. were penalised as Ballyclare came forward and Jackson was held up close to the line. In a rare break out the visitors out half was wide with a drop goal attempt and Weatherup was injured but continued after treatment. C.I. did finish the half in a more attacking style to force Russell to clear. The level scoreline did not do justice to the home side at the interval.
The Clare men restarted with Logan and Boyd dominating the lineouts but were unlucky to lose posession in mid field. However Collie Morrow recovered to clear and Clotworthy made a good run to start another promising home attack. At this stage C.I. had a forward sin binned for constantly preventing release. But Russell was wide with the resulting penalty. Moore then made ground in the loose but the home side failed to make best use of the one man advantage and to be fair it was C.I. who countered well to drive to the Clare line and force a penalty which was kicked to go 8-5 ahead much against the run of play. Ballyclare responded with one of the best runs of the match when Coburn broke from half way and was halted five metres out just lacking support otherwise there would have been a score.C.I. cleared the danger as Paul Morrow was down but he recovered and after a good run by Clotworthy the centre beat the C..I.defence to race over to get what looked like the winning try as Clotworthy was just wide with the conversion attempt. But the Whitehare men were now 10-8 ahead close to full time.Russell kicked deep to try and play out time in the opposite half only to see the visitors come back well into injury time and to be awarded a penalty on the left side . Their out half slotted it over to win by 11-10 as the whistle went for the end–they had done enough to win the league but certainly did not deserve to win the game. The result with Donaghadee also winning on the same night makes it tough for Willie Logan`s men to nick that second spot but it is not yet over.
Ballyclare–G.Clotworthy;G.Weatherup,P.Morrow,J.Jackson,J.J.Baird;I..Russell,C.Morrow,A.Boyd,A.Wylie,D.Montgomery; R.Boyd,A.McGrugan;N.Moore,W.Logan(captain),C.Coburn
ACADEMY 3rds 12 BALLYCLARE 4ths 31
Last Tuesday night John Wasson`s Fourths with only one league loss went to Academy for this Minor league game. They built up a 17-5 lead by half time and in the first half started with a try from scrum half cavan Watson which was converted by Wasson. Then from ascrum Harry Gaston broke clear to get a try and later suffered a broken nose following a collision with one of his own players. Next after a good move in midfield by centre Smith Mark Alexander drove over into the corner for the third try. Academy got one back but the Clare boys were just too strong and in the second half increased the lead when skipper Wasson broke clear to put Noel Smith in for a try converted by Wasson. Academy countered with a converted try but Cavan Watson got clear to get in for his second score and Wasson converted which left the Fourths clear winners by 31-12. There were sound performances from Gaston,Alexander and Watson. The Fourths were due to play C.I.Y.M.S. 4ths on Saturday at home but the belfast club was unable to raise a team.
FIXTURES— 1st XV v Donaghadee (home) Saturday 23rd ; 4th XV also at home. There will be a pre match lunch–the last of the season–contact Ian Morrow or Eddie Simms for full details.
