Ballyclare to host Festival of Rugby

First up will be Greystones on Saturday afternoon, with games by the various club sides on most evenings, before the grand finale on Saturday, April 24 when hundreds of young stars will be in town for the ever popular mini-rugby tournament.

On the competitive front, the seniors were whitewashed 32-0 by Donaghadee last Wednesday, and after challenging for promotion from the Qualifying League Section 2 in the early part of the season, will be fortunate to finish in the top half of the table.

With Nigel Moore and Nick Beattie having sustained hand fractures the previous week, coach Robin Byers had to make several changes, but his plans were undone after half an hour when James Jackson retired with a suspected foot fracture.

Donaghadee, who are likely to finish runners-up to Academy, scored two tries and a penalty to give themselves a healthy 17-0 lead at the turnaround.

Continuing to use their numerical advantage, the home side added two more tries and a penalty without reply to finish worthy winners.

Ballyclare’s 3rd XV recorded a fine 14-12 win in their Junior League Section 3 fixture against Portadown III at Chambers Park.

An Andy Watson try converted by John Wasson kept Ballyclare in contention at the interval when the home side led 12-7, but in the second session a Stuart Cusack touchdown, goaled by Wasson sealed victory.

Wing forward Billy Wright and winger Stuart Cusack shared the Man of the Match honours.

Meanwhile, recent recruit Alan McGrugan, who started his career at The Cloughan, has rejoined the club after having been with Ards, and the talented wing forward starred in the opening tour match in Helensburgh where the home side won an entertaining game 33-22.

The scorers for Ballyclare were Gareth Byers (2), Mark Weatherup and Willie Logan, with John James Baird adding one conversion.