Ballymena front up
BALLYMENA 19 DOLPHIN 12
By Michael McGeary 10 December 2006
Power and aggression
up front was the key to this hard-earned victory at Eaton Park yesterday.
It was little surprise that all three tries came courtesy of the Ballymena
pack - hooker Steven Douglas, No 8 Chris Henry and lock Ian Caldwell.
Ballymena won the forward battle from start to finish, but too often failed
to capitalise on the numerous chances they created. The home side, desperately
in need of a victory having only won one league game this season, enjoyed
the best possible start, with Douglas's try coming as early as the third
minute, converted by full-back, Dirkie Strydom. Twelve minutes into the
half, visiting out-half, Brendan Keeshan, landed the first of his four
penalties. He then added penalty added number two, cutting the deficit
to a single point. But Ballymena then responded with their second try
and, this time, the pack again provided a platform for Henry to get the
touchdown, Strydom again adding the conversion. Two minutes before the
break, visiting wing Edward Mills almost got through for a try, a timely
warning that Ballymena could take little for granted. Two minutes into
the second half, Keeshan's third penalty of the afternoon brought the
visitors to within five points. It was then that the home side switched
Scott Young to out-half in place of James Ritchie and the move seemed
to work. For the first time all afternoon, there was increased penetration
from the three-quarters. Fifteen minutes from time, Keeshan's fourth penalty
of the afternoon reduced the arrears to just two points and set the scene
for a nail-biting finale. Fortunately for the home side, the pack again
reasserted itself, taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and their
picking and driving drove the visitors back repeatedly. Eight minutes
from time, Dolphin found themselves pinned back on their own line and
only heroic defending kept their line intact. But something had to give
and, six minutes from time, Ballymena's giant lock, Ian Caldwell, barged
over for the try his side so desperately needed and, though Strydom failed
with the conversion attempt for the first time all afternoon, a collective
sigh of relief went around Eaton Park. Dolphin though weren't finished
and several times in the closing minutes threw caution to the wind and
attacked the Ballymena line, a warning that Ballymena had to be at their
absolute best defensively.
BALLYMENA: D Strydom, S Young, J Topping, J
McGruggan, A Maxwell, J Ritchie, D Drake, P Steenkamp, S Douglas, S Shaw,
I Caldwell, B Young, A Graham, G Moore, C Henry. Replacements: T Court
for S Shaw, M Harshaw for S Douglas, P Spence for D Drake, P Budina for
J Ritchie.
DOLPHIN: G Conway, E Mills, P Owens, J O'Mahoney, K Lynch,
B Keeshan, G O'Keefe, F Gateley, K Murray, J O'Sullivan, R McGrath, D
Hardy, G Finn, D Murphy, D Pomeroy. Replacement: S Heffernan for J O'Sullivan.
REFEREE: D Phillips (Leinster).
