Nutty Krust U18 Floodlit Tournament Ballymena v Larne 11th February 2015
The first of the Nutty Krust Tournament 2015 games got underway when Ballymena RFC U18’s played Larne RFC U18’s at Portadown RFC on Wednesday 11th February.
The Ballymena U18 team won the game by 40-6 but they were made to work hard for the win by a very committed Larne U18 team. It was the Larne team that took an early 3-0 lead when their very skilful outhalf, Stuart Andrews, converted a penalty opportunity after just a few minutes of the game. It was midway through the first half before the Ballymena team was able to register their first points of the game. Tight head prop, Stephen Hunter, finished off with a try that started with a turnover. The try was converted by Conor McNeill to give his team a 7-3 lead. Two minutes later, the score became became 10-3 when Conor McNeill was successful with a penalty kick following a great break from his No 8, Ashton Logan. The Ballymena team was now in the ascendancy and, following a period of pressure, their 2nd Row forward, Harry Johnston, went over for an unconverted try to increase the lead to 15-3. The Larne team displayed great resilience and got some reward for their endeavours when Stuart Andrews was successful with his second penalty of the evening to reduce the deficit to 15-6. Just on half time, the Ballymena team scored another unconverted try when Stephen Hunter touched down for his second try of the game to give his team a 20-6 lead.
After the restart the Larne team was unfortunate to pick up a couple of second half injuries and the Ballymena team stepped up the pace of their game. Scrum half, Jonny Crooks, touched down for an unconverted try to see the Ballymena increase their lead to 25-6. This became 30-6 when replacement player, Ben McIlroy, was on the end of good work from Ashton Logan and Stephen Crooks to touch down for a try fifteen minutes into the second half. Back came the Larne team with a period of pressure but they just could not find any way through the Ballymena defence. In the final seven minutes of the game the Ballymena team scored two tries through David Fullerton and Ben McIlroy which ensured it was the Ballymena U18 team that qualified for the quarter-final stage of the Nutty Krust Tournament with their 40-6 victory.
Following the game, Bobby Stewart, Senior Vice President of the Ulster Branch (IRFU), presented the Nutty Krust Man of the Match Award to Dillon McKillen, the Ballymena U18 Hooker, for the technical ability Dillon displayed throughout the game.
The next game in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament will take place at Chamber’s Park on Wednesday 18th February when Clogher Valley U18’s will play Rainey RFC U18’s in a match scheduled to kick off at 7-45pm.
