1st XV v Buccaneers
Ballymena slump again
By Micheal McGeary (Sunday Life)
BALLYMENA 16
BUCCANEERS 18
Ballymena slumped to a third successive league defeat at Eaton Park yesterday.
In previous matches against Shannon and Garryowen they played well even in defeat, but here there were few encouraging signs.
Only two points separated the sides at the finish but the visitors were good value for victory, never looking back after scoring two first half tries.
In contrast Ballymena relied almost exclusively on full back Dirky Strydom for scores and were never able to impose themselves on the match.
Even the impetus of their only try 12 minutes into the second half failed to provide their much needed revival.
Three Strydom penalties eased the home side nine points clear before Buccaneers struck for the first of two first half tries.
In a rare piece of enterprise the visitors strung together a fine attacking move with Aidan Wynne scoring the try.
After full back Tom Cregan had missed a penalty Buccaneers heaped further misery on Ballymena with a fine individual try by wing Mark Bruce with Cregan adding the conversion.
Twelve minutes into the second half Ballymena hit back with their only try of the match after their much improved pack managed to push Buccaneers off their own ball allowing No 8 Chris Henry to score the try with Strydom adding the conversion.
It was the first ray of hope the home fans had witnessed all afternoon but instead of the home side pushing on from here Buccaneers dug deep and held their nerve before Cregan cut the deficit to a single point with a penalty 20 minutes from the end.
Cregan was then on target with a penalty from halfway, but four minutes from time Ballymena paid a heavy penalty for showing dissent when Cregan kicked the penalty that gave them the lead and left Ballymena fighting a losing battle.
It was all Buccaneers at this stage with Ballymena pinned back deep in their own 22 and a fortuitous Buccaneers penalty piled further pressure on the home side and effectively ruled out any opportunity they might have had of salvaging the match.
The cheers of joy at the finish came from the small Buccaneers support while the home faithful were left to reflect on another afternoon of wasted opportunity.
Lady luck doesn't appear to be shining on Ballymena this season but with only seven of last season's team on duty it's obvious they're going through a season of transition, a painful time for players and supporters alike but victories between now and Christmas will go some way to lifting the gloom.
BALLYMENA: D Strydom, C Smyth, P Budina, J McGruggan, C Woods, P Campbell, P Spence, P Steenkemp, M Harshaw, T Court, I Caldwell, B Young, G Moore, N McMillan, C Henry. Subs: S Shaw for T Court, S Douglas for M Harshaw.
BUCCANEERS: T Cregan, M Bruce, A Hayman, W Wallace, N O'Hara, A Wynne, C O'Loughlin, B Gilligan, G Halligan, K O'Neill, D McGowan, C Finnerty, C Hartigan, B Hanley.
REFEREE: M Gargan (Leinster).
