Junior League Section 4 Limavady 2XV v Ballymena 4XV
John Hunter Memorial Ground, Limavady
22nd September 2012
CLICK HERE FOR THE SHOTS
Limavady 2XV opened their home league matches against Ballymena 4XV in almost perfect playing conditions against with a number of changes to the team that narrowly beat City of Derry last week. Adam Faulkner, Stuart Houston and Johnny King moved up to play for the 1XV team to replace injuries and were replaced by Lexie Magee at hooker, Mícheál McCloskey in the second row and James Purcell at wing forward, all playing their fist game for the seconds. Sean Suli our usual number 8 was also missing due to a hand injury being replaced by Lee Clyde, playing again after a two year break. At full back Pearce McNickle moved up from the 3XV and Ryan McCool had his first senior game for the Club at centre.
From the off the captain, Clive Scott lead his troops into the Ballymena half where they camped for almost all of the first half putting pressure on the opposition and gaining from forced errors and conceded penalties. McNickle slotted over penalties after 3 and 5 minutes to give Limavady a 6 point lead. On the 20 minute mark, McNickle put up a high ball which he chased and as a result of being tackled without the ball earned another penalty, which he missed from close to the left wing. 24 minutes seen the first try of the match when Limavady was awarded a 5 metre scrum when a Ballymena player was carried over the line. From the resulting scrum Lee Clyde picked up and ran for the line being pushed over to score by Adam Campbell. McNickle duly converted giving Limavady a 13 point lead. McNickle slotted over another 3 penalties on 25, 37 (from half way) and 39 minutes to give Limavady a 22 point lead at half time.
Limavady started the second half in similar fashion to the first and again put pressure on Ballymena from the kick off securing their fist penalty and another 3 points from McNickle after 4 minutes in front of the posts. A few minutes seen Clyde collect the ball inside his own half, break through a number of tackles assisted by Campbell, then hand off a number of Ballymena players before running some 60 metres to score to the right of the posts. McNicholl duly converted to give Limavady a 32 point lead.
Ballymena were gifted their only points of the game when their number 13 intercepted a Limavady pass from Kilburn to run in below the posts and score their try, which was converted.
Limavady responded by again heading deep into the Ballymena half running towards the right corner only to be tackled high from behind. From the resulting penalty, McCloskey took possession of a tap penalty to force his way over the line close to the posts. McNickle stepped up again to slot over the conversion to give Limavady a 39 to 7 point lead. Limavady weren’t finished yet and Scott took off on a penetrating run deep into Ballymena territory offloading after being tackled to Kyle Murray who scored in the right hand corner to increase the Limavady points to 44. Limavady almost scored again in the last play of the half but unfortunately the ball was knocked on when Thomas McCauley was tackled close to the line. FT 44-7
It was a great all round performance from the Roesiders but coach Harry Faulkner had high praise for Clive Scott, Adam Millar, Gavin Rodgers, James Purcell, Adam Campbell, Pearse McNickle (24 points) with Lee Clyde getting further praise following his return.
Kukri Qualifying 2 Ballyclare 1XV v Limavady 1XV
The Cloughan, Ballyclare
22nd September 2012
Limavady produced an underwhelming performance in their first away game of the season in Ballyclare. The home got off to the best possible start when centre, Jackson, went under the posts just after the minute mark, leaving kicking duties for Byers relatively easy. The Roe Valley men struck back straight away, with a fantastic penalty from full back Aaron Brolly.
Ballyclare were’t to be discouraged from the away sides counterattack, and slick hands and poor tackling led to their second try of the afternoon when, other centre, Clotworthy, went over in the corner, this time the kick proving to difficult for Byers. Again the all blacks were able to retaliate and a great tackle from Perry Semple, gave Limavady the penalty for holding onto the ball on the ground. Brolly stepped up again, with a great strike, to keep the visitors within 6 points, with barely 10 minutes on the clock.
The high tempo of the match didn’t stop. Unfortunately for Limavady they couldn’t stick with the pace. More piercing runs from the County Antrim men, and a nifty switch pass, handed them their third try on the 20 minute mark. The Limavady nightmare didn’t end there, and straight from kickoff more superb offloading, combined with some great strength and speed gave the home team the bonus point try barely a quarter of the way through the match. Byers converted.
Limavady were able to pin “Clare” back for the next 15 minutes, and even create a few chances of their own. Encouraging running from centre pairing Chris Hunter and Stuart Hull, wasn’t able to get the away side over the line. Still there was time for a counterattack which gifted Clotworthy his second and his teams their fifth try before half time. There was still time for Limavady prop, John Harbinson and Ballyclare 8, Rainey, to be sin binned for fisticuffs meaning that they would miss the first 10 minutes of the second half. HT 29-6.
The second half got half to a slow start and neither team were able to take advantage of the uncontested scrum, but this all changed when the sinned binned player rejoined the action. A defensive scrum on the Limavady 5 metre line was turned over and wing forward, Weatherup was on hand to cross the whitewash for Ballyclare’s sixth try under the posts, Byers converted the simple conversion.
At last Limavady got the bit between their teeth, and from a well worked lineout move that hooker Ian Campbell was able to pickup and drive over the line. Aaron Brolly assisted with the conversion. Ballyclare then picked up their game, not giving Limavady an inch, and outstanding flyhalf, Lawlor pulled some more strings when his subtle chip over the wailing defence gave his side a seventh try, with the two points added again by Byers. From the restart, strong running and a dummy pass from Lawlor gave another try under the posts, and Byers kicking took the home sides total to 50.
There was just about enough time for some more drama from Ballyclare number 8, Rainey, got his second yellow of the afternoon, meaning a red card. The resulting penalty was taken quickly and went through the Limavady backs hands to allow Brolly in for a try in the corner, but he couldn’t match his early effort, narrowly falling short with his conversion attempt. FT 50-18.
