Ballymena Fifth XV savour Ravenhill glory

Armagh travelled to Ravenhill with a side that comfortably won junior league 5 scoring well over 500 points along the way and they had also knocked Ballymena FOurths out in the first round of the Forster Cup.

Early Armagh pressure was rewarded with a penalty for repeat offences at the break down but, kicking into the wind, the Armagh out-half put the ball wide of the post.

At 15 minutes it was Armagh’s turn to give away a penalty when their tackler would not roll away. Gareth Caves stepped up and with a smooth swing of his leg, slotted the ball over the bar for the first score of the game, 3-0.

On 25 minutes the referee awarded Armagh with another penalty after yet again more ill discipline at the break down from the braid men. Armagh opted for the posts again. This time the Outhalf did not miss and Armagh were back on level terms, 3-3.

At 30 minutes Ballymena found themselves in the Armagh 22. Armagh tried to win the ball back by holding the Ballymena player up in a tackle but Ballymena forwards soon got in and started a rolling maul.

The Braidmen proved too powerful for the Armagh defence as they were shunted back to allow hooker David Cooke to score. Gareth Caves missed the conversion to leave the score 8-3.

Armagh showed great character from the restart and were soon back inside Ballymena half. Ballymena defended well and were very unlucky to find themselves giving away a penalty that could have went either way. Armagh took advantage to close the gap and slotted the resulting kick over, 8-6.

Armagh started to turn the heat up and at 35 minutes were awarded another penalty in front of the posts. Armagh’s out-half kicked into a strong head wind to take the lead for the first time in the match, 8-9.

With time running out Ballymena were despite to finish the first half in front. They set up a series of crash balls that got them into the Armagh half. Armagh finally gave away a penalty on the stoke of half time but it was 45 yards out. Centre Mathew Banks stepped up this time as it was just within his range. With a lot of pressure on him Banks slotted the ball over with a beautiful kick. Ballymena went into halftime with a 11-9 lead.

Armagh started the half with the wind in their favour. Their cause was boosted even more when Banks was yellow carded for hands in the ruck 5 minutes into the second half.

Ten minutes into the game Armagh finally took the lead again when they were awarded a penalty. Armagh struggling to break down the Ballymena defence took a pop at the posts and the 3 points were added, 11-12.

With Banks sin bin time nearly up Armagh were awarded a second penalty in front of the posts. Ballymena were starting to look under real pressure now and extremely lucky not to get another yellow card for repeat offences at the break down. Armagh’s out half added the extra points to extend the lead 11-15.

From the restart Ballymena, still a man down gathered the ball after Armagh dispatched it deep into the braid men’s half. Ballymena shifted the ball wide to Kevin Dorrity who raced from his own half to score a superb try out wide. The conversion was missed but Ballymena retook the lead 16-15

Ballymena now back to full strength set about defending their lead and they choose to do this through attack.

With five minutes left, the Ballymena team effort was awarded with a penalty when the tired bodies of Armagh couldn’t roll away from the tackle area quick enough. Mickey Smith was given the task of taking the kick. The resulting kick split the posts and Ballymena opened up the lead to 19-15.

As the ball was booted out of play for a final time, it was Ballymena’s years of experience and friendship of the Ballymena team that saw them come out on top.

Fifths: James Allen, David Cooke, David McNeill, Paul McBride, Davy Laughlin, Kevin Dorrity, Tim Roddy, Trevor Robinson (capt), Ryan Patterson, Gareth Caves, David Gaston, Rodger Watson, Michael Smith, Mathew Banks, Jason Mckeown, Ian Cruickshank, Phil Kenny, Chris Smyth, Ben Gillian, Denver Suiters.