BALLYCLARE RFC I XV REACH TOWNS CUP SEMI FINAL: Report + Shots LIVE HERE

Ballyclare 27 Dromore 3

Ballyclare 1st XV produced another strong performance on Saturday at the Cloughan against Qualifying 1 side Dromore in the quarter final of the Powerade Towns Cup and were looking ahead to this week`s draw for the semi finals. On the league front in Qualifying 2 Bangor made some inroads on the Clare lead with a big win over Limavady to get a bonus point victory.The Towns Cup game attracted a good crowd and was sponsored by Flogas. The Clare had the ever improving Mark Weatherup on the wing and with Clarke unavailable Clotworthy was at centre but in only his second game for the 1st XV after a bad injury suffered early in the season at Lisburn, he was in collision after only two minutes and had to go off with what appeared to be a broken jaw.
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Gareth Byers came on to the wing and Nathan Loughlin moved to the centre. Morrow took play into the opposite 22 within minutes and a run by Rainey forced the visitors to stray off side for Smith to slot over the kick to take an early 3-0 lead. Then Lawther pushed a tantalising kick into the 22 and Loughlin was up but just failed to get over. The home pack was now on the Dromore line after a good run by Wylie. The pressure was maintained following a run from Byers and Logan and Mark Weatherup took the final pass to go over for a try that was con verted from a wide angle by Smith and a healthy 10-0 lead. The Clare kept up the pressure as Rob Boyd drove up to the 22 and when Dromore were penalised at the ruck Smith kicked the penalty to go further ahead.
This spurred the Co.Down pack to make ground into the home half as Logan was sin binned . Superb defence from the home back row and centres prevented Dromore from breaking through and Lawther kicked upfield to enable Byers to counter attack. But the Clare were caught off side and Steenson kicked the penalty to reduce the home lead to 13-3. The half ended with Lawther and Smith racing clear into the opposite 22.
The second half started with the snow storm continuing but the elements did not affect a determined home pack and Mark Weatherup made ground up the right. Dromore did manage to counter but were dispossessed and Lawther and Weatherup combined to break clear to the Dromore 22. Another telling dummy and break from Skipper Lawther ended with Morrow being halted a metre from the line -the move deserved a score. Two minutes later Morrow kicked ahead and for a second time was unlucky not to score. This positive attacking game had to bring a reward and from the next run initiated by Lawther he found Loughlin who went over for the try with Smith adding the points to increase the lead to 20-3 .Next a telling break from Loughlin took the Clare once more into the Dromore 22 and this time lock McKinstry was up in support to score a fine try on the right side and once again Smith converted to give his side a very convincing 27-3 lead.By this stage club captain Mo Finlay had come on replacing prop Henderson. Dromore tried to counter and forced a scrum close to the home line after Rainey had been sin binned but could not get the better of a resolute home pack.The game ended with Ballyclare again in a good field position and the final scoreline reflected an excel;lent all round performance by the Clare team which on the day must have pleased coach Bob Young. Both half backs were on top form and Loughlin, Byers, Smith and Mark Weatherup showed there is a great value in sheer pace while up front the set pieces were very steady and Logan,Rainey and Gary Weatherup along with Rob Boyd were always making ground in the loose with both Rainey and McKinstry controlling the lineouts. It is quite interesting that the semi finals do not have one team from Qualifying 1 with three from Section 2 so the draw will prove most keenly awaited.
Ballyclare -R.Smith;M.Weatherup,G.Clotworthy (G.Byers),S.Cusack,N.Loughlin;N.Lawther (capt),C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,R.Henderson (M.Finlay);R.Boyd,G.McKin stry;G.Weatherup,M.Rainey,W,Logan;
Ballyclare 4ths 57 Monaghan 2nds 0
The Clare Fourths , unbeaten all of last season, have not lost a league match this year but were unable to field a team in their opening game and so were docked five points. On saturday they proved to be much too strong for Monaghan 2nds in agame that was very one sided in the first half as they led 50-0 at the interval. There was only one more try in the second half but the team should now be at or close to the top of Junior 6. For the record they managed to score no fewer than nine tries with six of them converted by the ev ergreen John Wasson. The tries came from full back Wasson with a couple,centres Gareth Smith and Steven Baillie one each,prop Darren Montgomery,number eight Chris Gillan,fly half Ivor Baine and wing mark Fox with a brace of tries.
Neither the Seconds nor the Thirds had matches on Saturday.
Saturdays Fixtures –1st XV v Dungannon 2nds (Conference League) There should be a pre match lunch –conact Willie Shaw for details; 2nd Xv v Ballynahinch 3rds (away); 4th Xv v Ballymena 5ths (away)