Ballyclare RFC I XV 16 v Lisburn RFC I XV 13
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Qualifying 2 leaders were at home to Lisburn who a week ago had been trounced at Omagh and the Clare faithful anticipated at the least a similar result. But the visitors with four Gilkinson brothers and centre Scott all in fine form had other ideas and this combined with the least positive performance of the seaon by the White Hares made for a very close tussle.The visitors made good use of the wind in the first half and when Boyd missed a tackle the Lisburn pack drove to the home line for D.Gilkinson to score at the posts and a delay for a kicking tee led to Scott attempting a drop kick that missed -this was to prove costly at the end. After a run by Wardrop Ballyclare had a penalty that Smith kicked to make it 5-3.Then as McKinstry was harshly penalised Scott had the chance to put his team 8-3 up.At this stage the strong visitors pack had the Clare in trouble but skipper Boyd broke to the 22 and lack of support prevented a try. They finished the half well as Logan was halted near the line and a penalty from Smith left it at 8-6 on half time.
The league leaders started well in the second half with wind advantage and a good break from Nial Lawther gave Loughlin the opening to go in for a try converted by Smith to edge 13-8 ahead. Then Wardrop found the corner from a penalty and as the Clare pack surged for the line Lisburn were penalisedfor off side and Smith gave his team a 16-8 lead. There were now hopes in the big home crowd od that bonus point but it was Lisburn who upped the pace in the last quarter and good work from their pack gave wing Melville the chance to get in on the right but Scott just failed with a tricky conversion so it ended 16-13 though Smith had a late chance from a penalty for off side but was just wide . On the day this was afar from convincing show from Ballyclare and no doubt coach Bob Young will have everyone working hard at training with the trip to Omagh on Saturday.
BALLYCLARE REACH FORSTER CUP SEMI FINAL SEMIS!
Ballyclare Fourths travelled to Ballymoney 3rds on Saturday to play Their Forster Cup quarter final. Both teams fielded strong outfits in what Clare skipper Mark Fox called the veritable game of two halves.In the opening period the Clare pack and veteran fly half John Wasson`s astute kicking with wind advantage gave the visitors plenty of chances and they had tries by centre Andy Holmes and flanker Michael Kirk with Wasson landing one conversion and a penalty to lead 15-0.
Ballymoney came back to get more than parity in the second half and at one stage managed to go ahead but a try from another Clare veteran centre Gareth Smith gave them some breathing space and another penalty from Wasson edged the visitors into a 23-20 lead that they held to the end. Ther were strog performances up front from Noel Smyth,Ian Heaney and Tony Turner plus Andy Holmes in the backs along with John Wasson at out half.The team now hope for a home semi final on 22nd March to try and progress.
