Academy triumph over Coleraine again

BALLYMENA Academy locked horns with Coleraine Inst for the second time in October with the North coast boys hoping that home advantage could be the catalyst for a reverse of the Ballymena win at the start of the month.

But it was another win for the Galgorm Road boys as they triumphed 21-15, even after failing to score in the second half.

Ballymena welcomed back Sam McNabney to the starting line-up but took the field without several of their senior players.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coleraine started strongly and opened the scoring with a Michael Poskitt penalty in the third minute.

The first try of the morning was the result of a dynamic driving maul by the Academy pack, with Adam Mitchell touching down for his first try of the season. Caleb Morrison added the extras to make the score 7-3.

Ballymena’s second try was created by out-half Stephen Shaw who spotted space behind the Coleraine defensive line. His well-measured kick was gathered and touched down by Timothy Patton and, with Caleb again adding the conversion, Ballymena looked in control with the score at 14-3.

CAI reduced the deficit with a replica of the Academy try. Michael Poskitt’s well-placed kick exploited the space behind the Ballymena try line and the Coleraine wing had no difficulty in touching down. Poskitt was unsuccessful with the attempted conversion.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following a period of pressure before half-time, Ballymena increased their lead with Matthew Rea driving over from close quarters. Morrison confidently slotted the conversion to leave the half-time score at 21-8.

The second half was a disappointing affair, particularly for Ballymena Academy. They made careless mistakes and a few wrong decisions which allowed CAI to capitalise.

It was the home team who scored the only points of the second half when Stephen Best showed strength and dynamism to drive over from close range. Michael Poskitt made no mistake with conversion and the final whistle sounded with the score 21-15.

Academy: Morrison, Stirling, Storey, Geddis, Foster, Shaw, Fleming; McNabney, Caithness, Hargy, Mitchell, McMurray, Patton (c), Hayes, Rea.