Fabulaous Fifteens are Tip Top
Ballymena RFC’s Under 15s maintained their push for the league title with an impressive win over visitors Ards. With the boys having been deprived of training and matches for over five weeks the coaches were unsure how they would react to their first outing since November. However there was no need to worry and the boys came out in the mood to remain top of the table. From the start the forwards proved too strong for their opponents. With McLeister and Scott making life difficult at the breakdown it was only a matter of time before the first try came. Scrum half Kerr darted through to set up McNeill who sprinted clear of the cover to score in the corner. Ballymena were dominant in all areas of the field with Forrester and Miskelly denying Ards any meaningful possession. Some neat play between Mills and McKillen saw the ball moved to Mackness who drove through two despairing tackles to touch down in the corner. Ballymena were now well on thweir way and Stewart was soon involved before giving the ball to Crooks who outstripped the covering defenders to score the first of his three tries. Ards were now firmly on the ropes and were finding it difficult to get out of their own half. The Ballymena forwards through Mattison and Hunter drove the 15s forward before second row Getty muscled his way over for another score. The first half was brought to a close with the try of the game, when the impressive second row Thompson stole the ball on his own line before running the length of the pitch to score. The second half was much of the same although Ards did cross for two consolation scores. However second half tries for Crooks and Jennings had already made the game safe and ensured a comfortable victory for the Braid boys. The 15s now go into the most important week of the season with back to back matches against Ballyclare and Rainey. These two matches will decide the league winners and the 15s have high hopes of continueing their excellent form.
Final score - Ballymena 45 Ards 12.
The Under 17s were not so lucky in their match with top of the table Instonians. The first half was a very tight affair with Ballymena standing firm against the much bigger school boys from Inst. The teams swapped tries with the pick of the match being a clever cross field kick from Appleton which saw McCooke collect for his first try of the season. Instonians struck back with two tries to put them ahead. However a maul saw McLaughglin and Curries surge towards the line. A second surge from Clarke and Compton released the impressive Millar who crossed for a well deserved try. With no training in 5 weeks and several players missing the second half became a difficult affair. Despite some excellent tackilng from Gilkinson and McAfferty the 17s could not control the Instonians back line. Only some last ditch tackling from Dunne and McAllister stopped the game from becoming a rout. With Inst well incontrol several flurries from Edwards and McNeill gave the Ballymena boys hope however the game was beyond them and the final whistle was a relief for the exhausted 17s. The boys are hoping to get back to training as the lack of fitness really did tell.
Final Score - Ballymena 12 Instonians 38.