Points secured in Portadown
Ballyclare travelled to Chambers Park, Portadown, for their penultimate Qualifying League 1 game of the season. A superb playing surface and near perfect weather conditions bode well for an entertaining encounter. A couple of changes were made to the starting line-up. Michael Rainey started at 8, with Tweed moving to the bench. Dave Clarke returned to partner Stewart Cusick in the centre with Baird moving to wing.
From the kick off Ballyclare swept up the pitch with intent. Inside the Portadown 22, the ball was swept out the backs. Cusick ran a superb line, splitting the Portadown defence to cross the line and score just to the left of the posts. Robert Smith added the conversion to give Ballyclare a 7-0 lead within 2 minutes.
The game settled with both sides mounting attacking pressure, defences held firm. With Portadown inside the Ballyclare half, Clotworthy mistimed a tackle and saw a yellow card for his efforts. Portadown kicked the resulting penalty to pull 3 points back. 3-7. Smith had the opportunity to give Ballyclare a seven point lead again soon after. His penalty struck the right upright and rebounded over for Ballyclare to lead 3-10.
Ballyclare’s back row of Robinson, Weatherup and Rainey were in fine form, Rainey particularly prominent both in attack and defence. Portadown forced their way into the Ballyclare, 22 where some weak defending saw them cross the line to score a good try wide left. The conversion attempt was well struck, levelling the score at 10-10.
Ballyclare were soon on the attack again and were awarded another penalty in a similar field position to the last successful attempt. This time Smith’s kick struck the left upright, high. As Smith bent over to retrieve the kicking tee, he watched the ball arc wide left. Smith the quickest to react as he sprinted towards the ball. The ball bounced, Smith caught and touched down to score. Why settle for 3 points when 5 will do!
Half time 10-15
Smith kicked 2 penalties early in the second half, his trick shot repertoire exhausted as the ball dissected the uprights cleanly on both occasions to increase the Ballyclare lead to 10-21. Portadown missed a penalty attempt, between the two successful Smith attempts.
Portadown were proving dangerous when deep in Ballyclare territory, at times Ballyclare struggled to clear their lines. Portadown sucked in the Ballyclare defence with some forward pick and goes and then flashed the ball wide. A scrambling Ballyclare defence couldn’t keep them out, as Portadown scored again. The conversion was missed, 15-21
With the clock ticking down, Ballyclare’s Clarke made a break in the centre of the field. The Portadown defence shepherded him right, where a well-timed pass found wing Baird who ran in to score to the right of the posts. Smith’s conversion added giving Ballyclare a 28-15 victory.
A much improved team performance where Rainey shone in the forwards and Cusick again showed well in the backs. One league fixture remains, an away fixture to league leaders Bangor. With Bangor’s participation in the Towns Cup final on Easter Monday, both clubs have agreed to finish their league programmes on Thursday evening, 7.45pm KO.
At the Cloughan, Ballyclare’s 2nd XV got a much needed victory in Junior 1 against Rainey 2nd XV. Rainey scored a try first to go 5-0 up. Tries from Butler and Kirk along with two Watson conversions saw Ballyclare lead 14-5 at half time. Rainey hit back with a converted try in the second half. The points secured for Ballyclare with a try by Adam Neill. Full time 19-12. The 3rd XV lost out to Grosvenor 3’s.
Ballyclare’s U18 got their cup campaign off to a good start with a 25-7 win away to Carrickfergus.
Ballyclare 1st XV (1-15) W Rea, D Chambers, A Boyd, R Boyd, W Logan, P Robinson, G Weatherup, M Rainey, T McGookin, G Clotworthy, JJ Baird, S Cusick, D Clarke, G Byers, R Smith
Replacements; R Scott, R Tweed.
