The University of Ulster, Coleraine travelled to Ballyclare RFC on Saturday looking for a win. After a hard fought match it was the home side that were victorious with a 37-15 victory over the students.
With the game only minute old UUC had the chance to put the first points on the board when they were awarded a penalty for Ballyclare being offside. Lee Murphy stepped up and slotted it away to give the visitors the lead. Ballyclare worked their way into the UUC half but great defence and a turn over by Calum Rowden led to him running the length of the pitch to score in the corner. Rowden converted his own try to make it 10-0 to the visitors.
Ballyclare made ground into the UUC defence and after spreading the ball wide caught UUC thin on the blindside and scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. Ballyclare followed this try up with a similar sort of move by drawing the UUC defence in tight before releasing their winger to score in the corner. The conversion was missed again. With the scores tied at 10-10 Ballyclare were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck and converted to leave the half time score 13-10 to the home side.
After the break UUC started the stronger of the two sides but couldn’t find a way through the Ballyclare defence then against the run of play, Ballyclare got the ball and spread it wide, after great hands from the their centre their winger broke several tackles to score. The conversion was successful making the score 20-10 to the home side. Ballyclare took confidence from this try and looked to break the UUC defence down but great tackling from forwards and backs held Ballyclare at bay. When UUC got the ball they looked dangerous but couldn’t find the edge to break the Ballyclare defence and against the run of play a forward pass missed by the referee led to Ballyclare again scoring courteous of their winger. The conversion was missed.
UUC knowing that a try would bring them back in touch with Ballyclare launched wave after wave of attack on the Ballyclare defence and great forward play around the fringes eventually led to Sam Hall stretching over to score the student’s second try of the game. Murphy missed the difficult touchline conversion. Ballyclare were determined to deny the students even a losing bonus point and put together a great attack of their own with the referee again missing a forward pass that allowed the Ballyclare centre to run through and score their fifth try of the match. The conversion was missed.
Ballyclare sealed the game up with what turned out to be the last kick of the match when their out-half grubber kicked through the UUC defence with the chasing player being offside when he caught the ball before sprinting home to complete the scoring. The conversion was successful leaving the score 37-15 in favour of the home side. UUC left empty handed but again put on an improved performance from the defeat to CIYMS last weekend. The students host Donaghadee this Saturday at Cromore Road with a 2.30pm kick off followed by the Ireland v Wales game in the Senior Common Room.
