Banbridge 14 Ballymena 20
Ballymena travelled to Banbridge to take on the side now coached by their old coach Andre Bester. In a very disjointed match, in which neither side impressed, Ballymena ran out winners by 20 points to 14. It was by no means a great rugby match and without impressing anybody it could be said that Ballymena were the better side and won without really extending themselves. However, Banbridge had a big, heavy pack and at times the Braidmen allowed themselves to be bullied by them. There is still something missing from a pack which is normally the foundation upon which good Ballymena sides are built. Without improvement they are going to struggle against the better sides.
Ballymena took the game to Banbridge and after 2 minutes went ahead from a Don Raw penalty. It looked as though Ballymena would go on to dominate the match from this early advantage but it was not to be. The game descended into mediocrity with neither side able to raise the level of the game. The game spluttered along until the 26th minute when Ballymena won a good line-out in the Banbridge half and the home side were again penalised. Raw kicked the penalty to make the score 6 points to nil.
Ballymena seemed to take heart from this and played with a bit more purpose. They started to pressurise the home defence and good probing kicks from Raw pushed them back into their own half. Darren Best was dominating line-outs and the braid men were making better use of the ball. Chris Smith made a good break but just as he was tackled Michael Harshaw was on hand to take the ball on to score.
Banbridge came back straight away and pushed Ballymena back into their own 22. From a scrum the home side got quick ball and ex-Ballymena player Mark Hill broke through to score a fine try which was converted to leave the half time score at 7 points to 13. The second half saw a bit of improvement in that some Ballymena players took a bit mor responsibility but the game itself did not improve any. Both sides were making lots of errors and neither line was threatened.
On the hour after a good period of play by Ballymena Alan Smyth made a good break and passed to Chris Brigl who ran away to score a try. Don Raw converted to make the score 20 points to 7. Ballymena were obviously content with their lot and made no great effort to increase their lead. In fact as the game was nearing the end the home side came looking for another try. Ballymena defended well but seemed content to sit back and absorb the pressure. Deep into injury time Banbridge got another converted try but there was only ever going tp be one winner.
Ballymena have now played three matches and the only consistent thing about their game is its mediocrity. There is no leadership on the pitch and nobody wants to take any responsibility in trying to lift the pace of the game. On Saturday Adrian Kirkpatrick covered a lot of ground and tackled well but got no response from the rest.
Ballymena: A Spence; C Browne, C Smith, C Brigl, A Smyth; D Raw, D Drake; A Ferguson (C Allen 53), M Harshaw, A Kirkpatrick, I Caldwell (A McGrugan 40), D Best, A Cupples (D Beggs 66), W McAfee, D McKee.
Banbridge 2nd XV 31 Ballymena 2nd XV 36
Ballymena seconds continued in their winning ways with a 36 points to 31 victory over Banbridge. Yet again the score would suggest a close game but Ballymena lead by 16 points to 5 at half time and with two quick tries in the second half their lead was stretched to 21 points. Ballymena were playing expansive rugby and this did not suit the opposition who had a big, heavy, cumbersome pack.
At this stage Ballymena were totally dominating the match but lost possession in the middle of the pitch. Banbridge put a good kick into the corner and from the subsequent line-out they won the ball and drove Ballymena back before their back row broke away to run in unopposed for a try. Banbridge kept coming forward and a period of sustained pressure on the Ballymena line resulted in a penalty try which reduced the lead to nine points. Ballymena responded with a good break into the Banbridge half forcing the home side to concede a penalty which Gareth Fisher converted. However Banbridge made good use of their big pack and took the game to Ballymena but the defensive qualities of the Ballymena side came to the fore and they went on the attack. From a scrum on half way Michael Smith made a good break and off-loaded to the supporting Alan McGrugan who ran in for a try and Gareth Fisher converted.
The game was now petering out with Ballymena comfortably in the lead but Banbridge had other ideas. They put on the pressure and in a long period of injury time they scored two tries to put a more respectable light on the score line. Ballymena had totally dominated the first half but failed to turn their superiority into points. Gareth Fisher put over a penalty for an early lead and then Robbie McGreer popped up on his wrong wing to give support and ran in a try. On the half hour a good passing move by Ballymena was detly switched to Joel Andrew who ran in a try. Just before the interval Gareth Fisher kicked another penalty to give the visitors a comfortable lead.
Coach Ken Campbell was pleased with the early dominance and said Ballymena were by far the better side but was disappointed with how they let the home side come back and score so many tries. They must learn to control the game better when they are so dominant.
Ballymena: J Nicholl; D Lowry, M Smith, J Semple, R McGreer; P Campbell, G Fisher; B McGookin, J Taggart, S Murphy, D Beggs, N Vorster, B Mairs, A McGrugan, J Andrew.
Ballymena 3rd XV 35 Dromore 2nd XV 10
Losing quite a few influential players just before the kick off was not the sort of preparation any team desires but the thirds were unphased and went on to beat a strong Dromore side by 40 points to 5. Ballymena started on a bright note with man-of-the-match Alastair Frazer getting an early try which Greer Winnington converted but disappointment soon followed when hooker Andy Boyd was sin-binned for a professional foul. Despite this handicap Ballymena worked hard to keep their lead intact and in fact further increased it. Dromore were on the attack when the alert Ryan Patterson intercepted a pass to race away from his own half to score in the corner. Greer Winnington put over a superb kick to make the lead 14 points.
This inspired the home side and they took the game to Dromore. After superb forwards play the ball was spread wide to the returning David Robinson (been out for a season and came back 2 stone overweight) who fended off despairing Dromore tackles to touch down under the posts and Greer Winnington added the conversion. Ballymena were playing with a lot of confidence but just before half-time let their guard slip and Dromore scored a try out wide.
At the start of the second half both sides struggled to get any rhythm but the visitors were the first to make any impression and scored another try which went unconverted. Ballymena appeared to be under the cosh but great defence, inspired by some great tackles from Chris Rea, kept the visitor's score down.
The home side gradually crept back into the game and Alastair Frazer, who was having an impressive game despite his tender years, raced away to score another try with yet another great kick by Winnington to take the home total to 28 points. Ballymena were now totally dominant and another superb try followed when centre Ben Gillen weaved his way past helpless Dromore defenders to score another try for Winnington to convert. Now totally in control the young Ballymena side (average age 19 years) are benefitting from the club trip to South Africa. A lot of these young men went away as boys but returned as men. They are a young side with a great work ethic and work hard for each other to make things happen on the field . This bodes well for the future of Ballymena RFC and perhaps in the not too distant future some of these young men will be wearing the jersey of the first team and making a career in the game.
An invitation is extended to any potential players to join the thirds at training on Thursday evenings at 7pm.
Ballymena: A Goodrich; D Robinson, B Gillen, D McClintock, S McMaster; G Winnington, R Patterson; G McHugh, A Boyd, Chris Rea, D Perry, T Montgomery, K Lamont, J Carmichael, A Frazer.
Ballymena 5th XV 40 Ophir 2nd XV 5
Ballymena fifths opened their season with a home match against Ophir seconds and ran out comfortable winners by 40 points to 5. Right from the start Ballymena took the game to the visitors and totally dominated the early proceedings and it was only a matter of time before the first score came. Andy Patterson took advantage of some poor defence to sprint 40 metres to score. As expected this opened the floodgates and further tries came from Denver Suitters (2), Willis Millar and another from Andy Patterson. Gareth Caves converted 4 to give the home side a lead of 33 points to nil at half time.
As expected, with a lead of 33 points, Ballymena took the foot off the pedal, and Ophir got an early try which seemed to motivate them. They came at Ballymena but as the game wore on the fifths composed themselves and against the run of play James Adams pounced on a loose ball in his own 22 and raced the length of the pitch to score and Gareth Caves converted. Ballymena spent the rest of the match in the Ophir 22 but were unable to add to their score.
This was a good all-round performance by the fifths in their first match. Special mention must go to Denver Suitters and Gareth Caves in the backs and pick of the pack were James Adams and Mark Moffett.
Ballymena: W Millar; C Henry, D Suitters, A Patterson, L McMaster, G Caves, P Stewart; G Lamont, J Davidson, S Perry, J Greer, P O'Hanlon, A Swann, M Moffett, J Adams.
Ballymena 6th XV 43 BHSFP 5
This was the first outing of the season for the sixth fifteen and they outplayed a very good BHSFP side to win by 43 points to 5. The match started off with neither side getting the upper hand but the very experienced home side gradually took control and started to rack up the points. Once the first score came it was just a matter of how many Ballymena would win by. At half-time the score was 28 points to nil.
The second half saw the home sides continue to rack up the points but as the game wore on the visitors lasted the pace better. However Ballymena dug deep and restricted their scoring efforts to just one try and the final score was a convincing 43 points to 5 victory. Tries were scored by Trevor Clark (2), Mark Turtle, Paddy Irwin, Norman McKernan, Tim Roddy and Kenny Gregg. Michael Ashcroft kicked four conversions.
This was a good display by the sixths and they put up a spirited performance against a very well organised side. This must be one of the most experienced packs ever to play for Ballymena with the average age being 39. People like Norman McKernan and Paul McBride who have given the club more than 15 years sterling service and are still willing to don the famous black shirt. Players like this are the backbone of any club.
Ballymena: P Curry; D Gaston, T Clark, P Reid, R McGeehan; M Ashcroft, P Crabbe; N Hill, M Turtle, P Irwin, P McBride, M Irwin, N McKernan, T Roddy, S Blaney (K Gregg).
