Reports from Is v Cooke, IIs v Portadown IIs, IIIs v Instonians IVs, IVs v Harlequins IVs, U19s v Ballyclare U19s.
Pictures from Ist XV v Cooke Ist XV in report below. Also lots of other pictures en route – wiil let you know when they are uploaded.
LATE SCORE DENIES BALLYCLARE IN CUP TIE
Ballyclare Ist XV 17 v Cooke RFC Ist XV
Ballyclare 1st XV hosted high flying Cooke from Qual.1 in the second round of the Junior Cup at the Cloughan missing regulars
P.Morrow,Coburn,McGrugan and Clotworthy while the visitors also were without their usual props but did have Andy Ward in the back row. An early home attack led to a penalty which Russell kicked for a 3-0 home lead. Strong play by the Clare pack which included McKinstry and R.Boyd for the first time this season forced Cooke to concede another penalty and Russell again slotted over the kick to lead 6-0. But the visitors hit back when Ballyclare were penalised at a ruck .
104 Photos on slideshow of Ballyclare Ixv v Cooke Ixv – Click Here –
They then kicked deep and moved the ball at pace for their winger to get in for an unconverted try to edge 8-6 ahead. However they were penalised at the re-start and Russell gave his side a 9-8 lead with another successful kick. Despite a clearance by Russell in the next Cooke attack Ward came into the line to make a try for his right winger to regain the lead 13-9. Following one of many strong runs by Logan Cooke were penalised and Russell`s kick came back off the post. The fly-half regained the ball and found skipper Logan who raced in to score on the right , conversion just wide. At this stage Ward was yellow carded and the White Hares ran the ball into the opposite 22 but lost posession . They had a narrow 14-13 lead at the interval.
Cooke missed an early penalty in the second half as play becme fairly even again. Another surge from Logan ended with J.J.Baird held up close to the line but Cooke were deemed off-side and Russell put over the kick to put his side 17-13 in front. As the game swayed back and forth C.Morrow and Russell made clearances but eventually the visitors reuced the home lead to 17-16 with a long range penalty. A home break out by Baird lacked support and Cooke missed a later penalty . Now into the closing few minutes it seemed that the Clare men were to take the tie but a couple of missed tackles on the right enabled the Qual.1 side to nick a vital try in the corner which was converted from touch. This took Cooke clear at 23-17 with little time left and despite a late run by Weatherup the city side held out to win..Man of the match had to be home number8 and Ulster Junior Clare skipper Willie Logan.
Team S.Morrow; G.Weatherup,J.Jackson,J.J.Baird,J.Reid; I.Russell,C.Morrow; G.Watters,R.Stewart,A.Boyd; I.Heaney,R.Boyd; N.Moore,W.Logan (capt),G.McKinstry.
PORTADOWN 2nds 32 BALLYCLARE 2nds 13
The Seconds had a few changes against one of the top sides in Junior 1 and early on had flanker Martin Todd injured so he moved to the wing. Portadown led 3-0 from an early penalty but Mark Thompson got in for a try and Chris Gillan kicked a penalty. But the home side managed to get a couple of tries to lead 15-8 at half-time. In the second half Portadown proved stronger up front and increased the lead with another three scores. Near the end the Seconds got adeserved try from the hard -working flanker Nick Beattie to make it 32-13 . Portadown had only lost once so far and were just too strong especially in the front row. Best for the Seconds were Beattie and hooker Wylie.
BALLYCLARE 3rds 15 INSTONIANS 4ths 13
This was a really merited win for Anthony Turner`s Thirds as they were a man short from the start due to a second row forward failing to show and in the second half had a man injured.
18 Excellent Photos on slideshow of Ballyclare IIIxv v Instonians IVxv – Click Here –
To make matters worse G.Byers was yellow carded. The Thirds did well in the first half to build up a 12-5 lead with two tries from the pacey Ricky McAdam plus a conversion from Andrew Alexander.Instonians replied with an unconverted try. In the second half the weakened home side were under pressure and Inst got a try and a penalty. However a penalty from Alexander edged the Clare boys ahead and they deserve credit for holding out for a victory very much against the odds.
HARLEQUINS 4ths 0 BALLYCLARE 4ths 41
The high flying Fourths remain unbeaten after producing a quality performance against a strengthened Quins side. Once again man of the match was skipper John Wasson with 21 points. They started with a penalty from Wasson before centre Gareth Smith made the opening for that man Wason to go in for a try which he also converted. Then a pre-arranged mid field move from the training paddock initiated by Nial Lamont brought a score for Artie Campbell converted by Wasson who addad a penalty to lead 20-0 at half-time. From a scrum in the second half Stephen Wright went in for a try and Wasson added the points. Next following a kick ahead Mark Fox raced in to score and Wasson did the needful for a 34-0 lead.The final and best try came from Paul Sempey making a comeback after four years out. He simply bulldozed his way over from the 22 and the skipper addedthe points for another convincing victory which according to Wasson was close to the perfect all round team performance.
BALLYMENA U 19 10 BALLYCLARE U19 17
The Clare Under 19 XV also remain unbeaten and did well at Eaton Park against Ballymena in this league game. The home side went 5-0 up from an unconverted try but the Clare boys hit back with a mid field attack ending with hooker and top scorer Craig Wallace going in for atry which was converted by Chris Harvey. The visitors continued to move the ball wide and another strong run from the backs saw centre Mark Wright cross for atry again converted by Harvey for a 14-5 lead at half time. In the second half Ballymena came back strongly and reduced the lead with an unconverted try. But a penalty by Harvey took the Clare lead to 17-10 which was held to the end.This was another good team effort with Wallace,Wright and Harvey outstanding.
YOUTH RESULTS Under 17 –Ballyclare 22 Ballymena 0; Under 15 Ballyclare –15 Ballymena 29; Under13– Ballyclare 17 Ballymena 22
SATURDAY FIXTURES 1st XV v. Lisburn (away); 3rd XV v. Harlequins 3rds (home); 4th XV v. Ballynahinch 6ths (away); Under 19XV v.Larne (home)
