Academy claim first victory of season

With Ballymena missing several players on Ulster Schools’ duty, Bangor took the field hoping to seize the opportunity to record a victory against last season’s Schools’ Cup winners.

In a game dominated by penalties at the tackle and ruck, neither team enjoyed a clear advantage of territory or possession.

Ballymena dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded in the 9th minute with the game’s opening try. From a scrum 10 metres out, Timothy Patton and Jack Fleming orchestrated a set move which culminated in centre Darren Geddis touching down below the posts. Callum Patterson had no difficulty in adding the extras.

Five minutes later, Ballymena were penalised at the breakdown and Stuart McCloskey confidently added the three points to open Bangor’s account.

From the restart, Ballymena immediately regained possession and some resolute Bangor defence was just enough to thwart the dangerous Ballymena three-quarters. This pressure resulted in an infringement by a Bangor tackler and Patterson stepped up to restore the lead to seven points.

Shortly afterwards, Patterson continued his good form with his third penalty of the game. This seemed to bring the Bangor players to life and they finished the half strongly with McCloskey adding two penalties in as many minutes.

Bangor started the second half with the same vigour as they’d finished the first and their strong-running forwards were now testing Ballymena’s defensive capabilities. After a sustained period of pressure on Ballymena’s line, Bangor were awarded a penalty which McCloskey converted to reduce the deficit to one point.

With both teams pushing for another score, it was Ballymena who finished the stronger with both Nicholas Stirling and replacement Peter Wallace tackled just short of the line in the final minutes.

Ballymena will have been disappointed not to capitalise on this late pressure but relieved to record their first victory of the season.

Ballymena Academy: McGowan, Stirling, Storey, Geddis, Foster, Patterson, Fleming; McMurray, Halliday, Hargy, Scott, Mitchell, Patton, Caithness, Rea. Replacements Wallace, Gaston.