BONUS POINT WIN FOR CLARE IN TOUGH OPENING LEAGUE GAME
CLICK HERE for album A CLICK HERE for album B Professional action shots courtesy of Gleno Photo Digital Photography Services
Ballyclare 1st XV made a start to a new Qualifying 2 league campaign at the Cloughan on Saturday when Omagh were the visitors and with many considering that the two sides were expected to push for the title this season it was always going to be a mighty tussle. The Clare coach Bob Young brought in ex Ballyclare High Schools Cup final second row Matt Dailly and Chris Gillen was in the centre as Jackson was involved in cricket and the experienced Paul Morrow was at full back. Omagh had lost a couple of backs due to injuries at training and the previous saturday but still were strong up front. The game was sponsored by Country Estates and the Match ball by Tom Patton. In the match Ballyclare continued to play a fast paced attacking game at a high tempo and the home backs always carried a threat especially in the first half. The team was rewarded with a 22-6 win with four tries to get a bonus point and the best possible start but they did have another try which went unseen and more clinical finishing would have brought at least another couple of scores.
BALLYCLARE 22 OMAGH 6
This game was played with a strong cross wind which did not help kicking but did not favour either side in front of a fair support for both teams. The home side ran the ball at pace and soon constituted a threat to the Accies defence. An early break by Lawther and Clotworthy gave wing Baird the chance to power his way over at the corner and the attempted conversion from the touchline by Byers came off a post. Further attacking runs by the Clare three quarters forced Omagh to tackle bravely but they almost conceded again as Gillen was halted inside the 22. Then Clotworthy broke clear on half way and raced in for a second try which Byers converted to go 12-0 ahead.Further home pressure took the Clare back into the Omagh 22 but they defended well with good work from their back row and when they did try to make ground they were halted by Coburn and Rainey in midfield. Ballyclare were penalised for not releasing at a ruck and Omagh`s Ward was just wide with the kick. They did make ground through prop Smith before a break by Morrow allowed the home team to go back on to the attack. Weatherup made a scything run into the opposition 22 virtually up to the line but unfortunately Boyd spilled the pass with the line at his mercy.
Now deep into the second quarter Byers made a strong break upfield but the Clare pack was penalised at the ruck. At this stage the impressive young Omagh centre Yongataleni sustained a knee injury and eventually had to go off. This actually galvanised the Tyrone men whose pack lifted their game and when the home side was penalised Ward slotted over the kick to reduce the home lead to 12-3 as they finished the half strongly.
Some of the home play in the first half had been flamboyant and in the second period eventually fly half Lawther managed to find touch as Omagh countered. An early break by flanker and ex winger Weatherup at pace from his own 22 saw him racing away to get a fine solo try out wide that was not converted to put Ballyclare further ahead.Omagh never gave up and forced a penalty which Ward slotted over to make it 17-6. Again they advanced into the home 22 to force Lawther to clear and from the next move by the Clare pack started by Weatherup and Coburn , prop Boyd atoned for his first half miss by scoring from a ruck on the right and the wind held up the attempted conversion by Byers, At this stage from another drive by the home forwards flanker Coburn got a touch down but the official was unsighted. Omagh once more made ground but Lawther cleared and a powerful run by Baird and Coburn set up achance only to break down at the ruck, Another surge this time from Byers and man of the match Baird almost led to another score . Omagh made a late drive into the home 22 only to be halted by tackles from Coburn and Lawther. But the visitors finished the game pressing on the home line as Paul Morrow defended well and ballyclare held out not only for a deserved win but also a bonus point from the four tries scored. There was a lot of impressive play by the Clare especially in the first half.
Ballyclare -G.Byers;P.Morrow,G.Clotworthy,C.Gillen,J.J.Baird;N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie,M.Finlay (capt);M.Dailly,G.McKinstry;C.Coburn,M.Rainey,G.Weatherup.
Saturday Fixtures -THis weekend the 1st XV do not have a game but travel to Enniskillen on Saturday week. On Saturday 2nd Xv play Carrick 2nds (home) and 3rd XV is away to Cooke 2nds.
BALLYCLARE ROMP TO BIG WIN OVER ACADEMY
Ballyclare ist XV completed an excellent series of pre season friendly fixtures on Saturday with a game at Roughfort against Academy who are a Section 1 team but who tended to struggle last season and just held on to their Qualifying 1 status. For Clare coach Bob Young this was the third match against opposition from the top league and to come out as winners in each one must give the coach and the team the belief that they can make a masive charge this season at attempting to gain promotion back to Qualifying 1. Ballyclare were in the top flight for thirty years before being relegated several seasons ago to Section 2 and in the past two seasons have contended strongly only to lose out to Donaghadee,C.I.Y.M.S. and U.U.C. The performance on saturday against Academy brought ten tries in a 66-0 win which surely must create confidence for the new season that kicks off on Saturday with a very tough test against old rivals Omagh Accies. Also last Saturday there was a very competitive trial game at the Cloughan between the Seconds and the Thirds where the man of the match was second row Robert Boyd who hopefully is recovered from a knee injury. There was also a great performance by prop Stevie Crawford which showed that he is nowhere near ready to retire from the game.This years captain of the 2nd Xv is centre Chris Gillan and it is expected that Tony Turner will continue as skipper of the 3rd Xv who have been promoted to Junior 2.
ACADEMY 0 BALLYCLARE 66
Prior to this game Academy had suffered narrow defeats to two other Qualifying 2 teams-Larne and Grosvenor F.P. They had wind advantage in the first half but the Clare made the opening attack with a strong burst from McKinstry to half way only for the home team to clear well. The home defence was soon under pressure as Weatherup and jackson made ground into the 22. However Ballyclare were penalised ata lineout and the home out half Cooper was wide with the kick. The Clare backs now began to move thge ball at pace and a strong run by Byers put wing Loughlin in at the corner with the conversion just wide.Another promising surge from Jackson and Weatherup almost had Loughlin away again only to be penalised at the ensuing ruck. But the visitors kept the ball alive and Collie Morrow,in his thirteenth season at scrum half broke from a scrum to put Coburn in for a try converted by Byers to go 12-0 ahead.Then a strong drive by number eight Rainey along with Boyd enabled Weatherup to get number three as Byers added the points and the home team seldom were seen as able to mount any real attacks. Then a move initiated by Lawther and Clotworthy ended with Jackson going in at the corner for an unconverted try. Just before the interval Clotworthy broke clear on half way to race in for a solo try with Byers converting to leave it 31-0 at the break.
Early in the second half Baird raced away from half way and brushed aside four would be tacklers to score a try again converted by the reliable Byers. The Clare had brought on Paul Morrow for winger Loughlin who had to return as Baird had a finger injury and Wallace (returned from Ballymena) at hooker for Wylie.Another surge to half way from Rainey kept up the momentum and to be fair Academy did keep working hard against a superior side.Good play up the left side from Paul and Collie Morrow led to a try for Rainey with Byers adding the points to lead 45-0. Byers did well to halt the home right wing and a break on half way from Wallace and Lawther ended with a try from Clotworthy once more converted by Byers. But Academy came back to force C.Morrow to clear and Paul Morrow followed up to get try and Byers kick took the lead to 59-0. Near the end another surge from the outstanding Rainey made a chance for Collie Morrow to get the tenth try and Byers as usual did the needful to give Mo Finlay`s men a very comprehensive victory by 66-0. In this game the Clare team all showed up well as a constant attacking force and dominated the set scrums ,lineouts and loose to enable the backs to make ground and create openings. The excellent win followed success earlier against Coleraine and Ballymoney-lets hope the momentum is maintained and even increased!
Ballyclare-G.Byers;N.Loughlin (P.Morrow),G.Clotworthy,J.Jackson,J.J.Baird; N.Lawther,C.Morrow;A.Boyd,A.Wylie (C.Wallace),M.Finlay(capt);M.Crothers,G.McKinstry;C.Coburn,M.Rainey,G.Weatherup;
SATURDAY FIXTURE -The 1st XV start the new season in Qual.2 with a game against Omagh who lost narrowly on saturday in afriendly to Qual.1 winners Clogher Valley 12-5.The match is at the Cloughan with a 2-30p.m. start but there is a pre match lunch at 1-15 in the clubhouse and anyone interested in attending should contact President Willie Shaw (07883082823). It is essential that a big home support is present to help the team make a vital start to this season.
