Ballymena 24 v City of Derry 31
Ballymena continued their dismal form of the season and lost to lowly City of Derry by 31 points to 24. The Braid side got off to ma dismal start to the season with a home defeat to Rainey OB. Things began to look up with improved performances and victories over Ballynahinch and Banbridge. So hopefully this was going to continue against City of Derry and another victory at Judges Road would see Ballymena maintain their continued improvement. What a shock was in store for the Ballymena side. Gone are the days when all a team has to do is turn up and the other side capitulates and concedes defeat. Nowadays in sport you get out of it what you put into it and it appears that Ballymena are not prepared to put anything into it. On Saturday they started off slowly, they played slowly throughout the game and finished maybe with a bit of a flourish but by then it was too late.since the match was already lost. It could have been worse when the referee prevented a perfectly good score standing with a strange decision. One of the obvious features of the Ballymena side in all matches this season is that they have faded in the final stages of the match. Could this be mental, physical or both? Perhaps they do not work hard in between matches so they can't lift themselves on match day. Certainly on Saturday there was only one hungry team on the pitch. All 15 players in the green shirts covered every part of the ground and the few times when it looked as though Ballymena were coming back into the game City of Derry just worked harder to nullify the threat. Over the years the strength of all Ballymena teams is in their forwards but this season the pack has been ineffectual in all matches. They are being pushed around and bullied by inferior sides in all departments.
Things on Saturday were not helped when Adrian Kirkpatrick had to leave the game after 4 minutes. He has been lifting his game of late and was also capable of lifting the players around him. Something that is badly needed. So what happened on the pitch? The match began in a nonedescript way with a lot of kicking and both sides getting and losing possession but no real rugby being played. City of Derry had an early chance with a penalty in 2 minutes but it was pushed wide. For 20 minutes the game limped along with Ballymena at times threatening to break the deadlock but gritty determination by the home side snuffed any threat out. Then Ballymena got a penalty in the home half on 20 minutes and Don Raw converted to put the visitors ahead. Would this alter the shape of the game? Ballymena continued in the same vein and City of Derry worked even harder to try and get forward. On the half hour from a line-out the home side got possession and after a few phases of play their inside centre saw a gap and was through it before Ballymena could react. The points were added and Ballymena were behind. Ballymena came back straight away and after some good play David Drake broke clear to score under the posts with Don Raw converting to regain the lead. Raw had a chance to increase the lead just before the interval but missed a kick from about 40 metres and left the score at half time 10 points to 7 in Ballymena's favour. In the lead Ballymena should now turn up the wick and take the game to the lower division side and take them apart. But it was not to be. The wick continued to burn with the same low glow and it was the home side who lifted the tempo. Ballymena had possession but City of Derry turned it over and full back Brace raced away to score under the posts and the extras were added to restore the home side's lead. On 56 minutes City of Derry stole the ball again and their number 8 broke clear to score and the kick was converted to make the score 21 points to 10.
The match continued with Ballymena getting good possession but failing to make use of it and on the hour City of Derry got another try. It was a repeat of a previous try with Ballymena possession stolen yet again and full back Brace again outstripped a poor defence to score a try which was converted and made the score 28 points to 10. As expected the home side began to play with more confidence and could sense victory but in the 63rd minute they received a set-back when Ballymena had a good few phases of play in home territory and Alan McGrugan broke away to score and Raw converted. The gap was now 11 points and in the 72nd minute the home side got a dropped goal which meant that Ballymena needed two converted tries to get a draw. At this stage they tried to raise their game but City of Derry, who had worked tirelessly all day, continued to defend well but were unable to stop a determined Chris Browne score a late try. Raw again added the points with the last act of the match. We are all aware that the World Cup is in progress and talk has been of the massive scores some sides are putting in against the so called minnows. Next week Ballymena are at home to Dungannon who are at the top of the league and at the weekend scored more than 70 points against Ards. Last week Ards played City of Derry and were 17 points ahead before City of Derry fought back for a narrow victory. Lets hope Dungannon do not get the chance to repeat their haul of 70 points. Ballymena: A Spence; A Smyth(C Smith 39), C Brigl, C Browne; D Raw, D Drake(R McCrudden &0); A Kirkpatrick(A Ferguson 4)(C Allen 50), J Taggart(A Ferguson 75), S Shawe, D McKee, D Best, M Burke(A Cupples 42), A McGrugan, W McAfee.
Ballymena 3rd XV 38 Dungannon 3rd XV 13
Ballymena thirds continued in their winning ways with a convincing 38 points to 13 victory over strong Dungannon thirds side. Ballymena started brightly with good pressure from the home pack resulting in two early penalties slotted by the in-form Greer Winnington.Bellymena then got their first try which came from a great scrum from props Murphy and McGookin who were outstanding throughout the match. The ball was was spread wide to michael Smith who made a superb break to score a fine try.Throughout the first half Ballymena squandered a lot of possession but their defence was axceptional with second row Nico Vorster particularly outstanding with a big tackle count and numerous turn-overs.
Graham Murray got in the action with an intercept try but should have got another in the second half but knocked on with line beckoning after a good team move had made the opening. Ballymena went in at half time leading by 21 points to 3 after another Winnington penalty. Dungannon were a more determined outfit in the second half but Ballymena fought fire with fire adding a further try from a smart, well-read John Nicholl intercept. Michael Smith drop-kicked a quick conversion to make it 28 points to 3. Dungannon came straight back with a well structured maul driving over for a try. Ballymena killed the game with two similar tries coming from Ben Gillen and Graham Murray. Centre Alasdair Frazer made two great breaks and put the scorers in for easy finishes. At the death the home side switched off and let Dungannon in for a try to make the final score 38 points to 13 for Ballymena.
Man-of-the-match was Nico Vorster with other outstanding performances coming from Michael Smith and Alasdair Frazer.
Ballyclare 4th XV 20 Ballymena 5th XV 3
Ballymena fifths travelled to Ballyclare and lost to very good side by 20 points to 3. As expected, any side that Ballyclare turns out is usually full of very experienced players and this occasion was no exception. Hard though Ballymena tried they could make no lasting impression on the home side, and apart from one great move by the threequarters and a final run by Denver Suitters the fifths were under pressure right from the start. Ballymena played with a slight wind in the first half but didn't really make use of what little advantage there was. However in 20 minutes they did take the lead through a superb Gareth Caves penalty from very wide on the left. Ballymena fought well to defend their line but towards the end of the half conceded a try out wide and at half time the score was 5 points to 3 in Ballyclare's favour. In the second half the home side allowed their experience to shine through and played some great rugby. Ballymena soaked up a lot of pressure but in the end Ballyclare ran in a further three tries to make the final score 20 points to three. Adam Swann had a great game and foraged for everything but alas even he couldn't stem the tide. Ballymena: J Kissack; W Millar, D Suitters, A Patterson, C Henry; G Caves, P Stewart; N Hill, G Lamont, P Irwin, S Perry, P O'Hanlon, D Finton, A Swann, M Moffett.
