Categories: BallymenaOmagh

Nutty Krust: Omagh Rugby U19 XV v Ballymena Rugby U19 XV: In Pictures: Report, video of play including tries and interviews to follow

REPORT: Nutty Krust U19 Tournament Wednesday 23rd March 2011 – Omagh v Ballymena – What A Game!
The last of the Round 1 games of the Nutty Krust sponsored Portadown RFC U19 Tournament took place at Chamber’s Park when Omagh RFC U19’s played Ballymena RFC U19’s on Wednesday 23rd March. The game started with the Omagh team determined to attack the Ballymena line at every opportunity. The Co Tyrone team took an early 3-0 lead when Neil Mellon kicked a penalty following an infringement at a ruck. The Omagh team continued to dominate territory as well as possession and got rewarded for their enterprising approach when outhalf, Lee Warnock, cut a fine line to score under the posts. Neil Mellon added the conversion to see his team into a 10-0- lead. The Omagh team met stiff resistance from a very spirited Ballymena team but there was little they could do to stop Jonny Sproule scoring a try following good work from Gary Sherrard.

Neil Mellon added the conversion to see his team safely into a 17-0 halftime lead. The Omagh team continued with their enterprising approach after the restart with Gary Sherrard crashing over for a try following a good interchange of passes involving both forwards and backs. The conversion attempt was missed but the Tyrone team had a 22-0 lead. The Ballymena team worked hard to deny Omagh possession through their backrow trio of Gary Donnelly, James Reid and William Robinson. However, there was little they could do to prevent another Omagh try when Luke McVeigh took advantage of a loose clearance kick to scorch in for a try. Again, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Omagh lead had been extended to 27-0. The Ballymena team kept searching for a way out of their half and fullback, Declan McKee, asked questions of the Omagh defence on a number of occasions. They were unfortunate to turn over possession a number of times which enabled the Omagh team to keep the pressure on the Omagh line. Lee Warnock scored his second try of the evening and Neil Mellon was successful with his conversion kick to increase the Omagh lead to 34-0. The final score of the evening came just before the full time whistle when Omagh winger, Terry Molloy, worked hard to support the ball carriers and score a try in the opposite corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but it mattered little as the Omagh team had won a very entertaining game by 39-0.
Following the game there was a post-match reception where the Omagh RFC U19 fullback, Neil Mellon, was presented with his “Man of the Match” Trophy by Paul Stephens representing the organising committee of the Nutty Krust sponsored Portadown RFC U19 Tournament.
The successful Omagh U19 team will return to Portadown to play Ards RFC U19’s, on Wednesday 30th March, in the first of the quarter-final games. This game is scheduled to kick off at 7-45pm and supporters will be made very welcome.