1st XV v Shannon
Ballymena 11 Shannon 22
Ballymena opened their AIB AIL campaign at Eaton Park with a match against
last season's champions Shannon. Many punters will say that it was a game
Ballymena should have won but in the end they lost by 11 points to 22.
Ballymena took an early lead through a Dirkie Strydom penalty but at the
interval, despite being camped in the visitor's 22 for the last 10 minutes
of the half, they trailed by 17 points to 6. They also tried everything
they knew in the second half but a resolute Shannon defence held firm
and scored a breakaway try at the death to deprive the home side of a
bonus point.
Ballymena started off brightly and took the game to Shannonwho had to
show their defensive qualities, which they had in abundance, early on.
They got the break through in the eighth minutewhen Shannon were penalised
and Dirkie Strydom put 3 points on the board.
Ballymena were playing really well with Jamie McGrugan prominent in making
inroads to the visitor's area but they were unable to get a try. in their
eagerness to attack at times they gave possession away and from one such
error Sean Cronin made a good break into the Ballymena half. Paul Campbell
made a feeble attempt at a tackle but the visiting hooker just brushed
him aside and off-loaded to Mark Tuohy who had a clear run to the try
line. Andrew Thompson converted to give Shannon the lead.
Ballymena attacked but on a turnover Shannon quickly turned defence into
attack and made good ground into the Ballymena half. Simon Shaw made an
instinctive tackle but unfortunately it was high and he was immediately
yellow carded. Andrew Thompson increased the lead from the penalty.
Yet again Ballymena took the game to the visitors without causing them
too much trouble but when Shannon came back at the home side their was
some uncertainty in the home defence. Comfortably in possession, Paul
Campbell kicked the ball wildly into the Shannon half. Shannon composed
themselves and after good running involving both forwards and backs the
full back joined the line and got through for another try. Andrew Thompson
added the points and at 17 points to 3 ahead it seemed as though the Braid
men were looking at a defeat.
Ballymena did not think so and were straight back on the attack. They
were camped on the visitor's line but after a succession of scrums all
they could muster was a dropped goal from David Drake. Perhaps they would
have been better in persisting for the try.
Dirkie Strydom had a couple of penalty attempts early in the second half
but failed with both.Early into the half Ballymena rang the changes with
a reshuffle. The front row, who had played really well, were replaced.
Craig Woods came on to the wing, Jimmy Topping was moved to centre and
Ditkie Strydom replaced Paul Campbell at fly half. This seemed to give
Ballymena a better balance and Jimmy Topping relished his new role in
the centre with some superb runs at the Shannon defence. The front row
were obviously fresh and took the game to the visitors. Ballymena were
camped in the Shannon 22 and after a series of penalties which they opted
to scrum the Shannon lock Donnocha Ryan got a yellow card.
Ballymena were now on the rampage and finally got their reward in the
72nd minute when they passed the ball quickly to the right and Craig Woods
evaded a couple of tackles to score in the corner. Unfortunately the kick
proved too difficult and with just 6 points between the sides then Ballymena
still needed another try and conversion to clinch the match.
The home forwards set about their task and spent the last 10 minutes of
the match camped on the visitor's line but the Shannon defence held out.
Deep into injury time Ballymena foolishly gave the ball away. Shannon
escaped, broke away to score a late try and so deprive Ballymena of a
bonus point.
This was a game which could have gone the other way but the Ballymena
team could not be faulted in their efforts to secure the win. There were
a lot of players in the Ballymena side who had not played at this level
before and perhaps some players who were expected to rise to the occasion
did not. However Ballymena can take a lot from this game and to have run
the current champions so close must be encouraging for next week's visit
to Garryowen.
Ballymena: C Smith; P Budina, D Strydom, J McGrugan, J Topping; P Campbell
(C Woods 48), D Drake; A Kirkpatrick (J Steenkamp 53), M Hershaw (S Douglas
48), S Shaw (T Court 48), I Caldwell, B Young, A Graham, G Moore, C Henry.
