Ballymena v Malone
Malone Ballymena
Ulster Senior League
Sat 11th Nov 2006
Ballymena were back to domestic duty in the Ulster Senior Leagueat Gibson
Park against Malone. After last weeks first AIB AIL victory against Galwegians
it was hoped that Ballymena would carry on in their winning ways. This
they did, in a hard fought game in difficult conditions, by 21 points
to 14.
A strong wind was blowing straight down the pitch and very heavy intermittent
showers didn't make things any easier. Ballymena had the elements in their
favour in the first half. After 3 minutes Ballymena got a penalty on the
half-way line and Dirkie Strydom put it over with a fine kick but any
hopes of scores from penalties were thwarted when the wind started to
swirl and made place kicking rather difficult.
The first half was mainly played in the home half but due to a good home
defence, the tricky conditions and lots of unforced errors from the Ballymena
side the score remained at 3 points to nil until just before half time
when Dirkie Strydom got a second penalty. The offending player also got
a yellow card.
Ballymena started the second half strongly against the 14 men but were
unable to drive home the advantage. Ballymena were dominating line-outs
and scrums but apart from the odd individual break, with Glen Moore and
the second row prominent, they never really troubled the home line.
That changed 10 minutes into the half when Ballymena were awarded a penalty
which was despatched into the corner. Ballymena got possession from the
line-out and moved the ball quickly along the line for Craig Woods to
finish off a fine move with the touch down in the opposite corner. This
gave the visitors a cushion of 11 points but almost immediately back came
Malone. Ballymena were in possession but a pass went astray and Malone
were on it quickly Tommy Horner hacked the ball on and although Ballymena
had cover Horner was too quick and got a try wide on the left. Gareth
Fry made light of the conditions and converted with a superb kick.
This seemed to spur on the home side and they attacked again but Ballymena
had defended well all afternoon and continued to do so. They increased
their lead again when the front row carried the ball to the home defence
and Pat Steenkamp got the touch down under the posts. Dirkie Strydom converte
torestore the 11 points advantage which son became 14 points with another
penalty.
Malone fought back and scored a late try with a driving maul and Gareth
Fry converted but Ballymena were comfortable until the final whistle.
This was a well earne dvictory in difficult conditions and keeps Ballymena
in with a shout of the league title. Dungannon lost their latest game
so Harlequins cannot afford to slip up with the Braid men breathing down
their necks.
Ballymena: D Strydom; A Smyth, J Topping, J McGrugan, C Woods; P Campbell,
D Drake (P Spence 40); J Steenkamp, M Hershaw, S Shawe, B Young, D Beggs,
A Graham, P Rodgers (D McKee), G Moore.
