Academy hit the 'Wall'

BALLYMENA Academy suffered a 22-5 defeat at Wallace High School in their second match of the season on Saturday.

John Andrew, Sam McNabney, Caleb Morrison and Callum Patterson were all away on Ulster Schools' duty, and with Peter Wallace and Johnny McClelland both on the long term injury list, Academy fielded a very inexperienced side.

The morning had got off to a less than perfect start when the team bus broke down in Ballymena leaving the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV without transport to Lisburn. The 1st XV were eventually transferred to the school minibus and arrived in Lisburn just in time for a delayed 10.45 kick off.

Similar to last week, Academy started at a cracking pace, taking the game to Wallace.

Following sustained pressure on the Wallace line, Ballymena were awarded a penalty in the 4th minute, close to the posts, but the opportunity was missed.

Academy continued to dominate but could not break down a solid Wallace defence. Wallace at last made a sortie into Ballymena territory and in the 16th minute were awarded a penalty following a Ballymena offside. This kick was also missed.

The game continued to ebb and flow with Academy still having the territorial advantage, but failing to capitalise on the opportunity created.

In the 32nd minute a speculative box kick on the ten metre line by the Wallace scrum half was allow to bounce by the Ballymena defence and the Wallace number 14, following up, caught the ball to score the opening try in the right hand corner.

Ballymena were dealt a double injury blow either side of the break. Influential centre Peter Storey left the field before half time with a groin strain and was soon followed after the break when out-half Peter Gillespie suffered a recurrence of a back injury. The reshuffle resulted in second row Matthew Rea playing the majority of the second half as a makeshift centre.

Academy continued to press and in the 50th minute, following sustained pressure on the Wallace line, Nicholas Stirling scored in the left hand corner. The conversion was missed.

Two minutes later, Wallace turned the ball over in mid field, and following a great offload the Wallace number 14 scored his second try under the posts.

Ballymena tried to get back into the game but on too many occasions they were slow to the breakdown, got turned over and chances went a begging. In the 58th minute Wallace went ahead from a penalty in front of the posts following another Ballymena offside, Academy continued to press for a score but following a period of sustained pressure in the 68th minute they were turned over again on the Wallace line. Wallace quickly moved the ball wide and in a sweeping move from their own 22, the Wallace number 11 scored the best try of the game under the posts.

Academy had most of the possession and dominated territory in this game, but their inability to win quick ball at the breakdown and to clear out at the rucks was a telling factor in the overall result.

The Academy will be disappointed with this result but can have no arguments that Wallace fully deserved their victory.

Academy: M. Halliday, M. Caithness, G. Hargy, M. Rea, M. McMurray, P. McKerr, T. Patton (Captain), P. Hayes, J. Fleming, P. Gillespie, P. Storey, N. Stirling, J. Foster, N. McGowan, D. Geddis, A. Mitchell, M. Campbell.