Braidmen lose crunch Ulster League clash at Ballynahinch

Ballymena lost 22-3 to Ballynahinch in their top of the table clash in the Ulster Senior League on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Feb 2014, 13:00 BST
Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children receives a cheque for £500 from Ballymena Rugby Club First tXV captain, Martin Irwin. Also in the picture are Bill Wallace, Chairman, Tom Wiggins (Vice Chairman) and Andrew Warwick (Vice Captain). The money was raised at a function run by club members earlier in the season.Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children receives a cheque for £500 from Ballymena Rugby Club First tXV captain, Martin Irwin. Also in the picture are Bill Wallace, Chairman, Tom Wiggins (Vice Chairman) and Andrew Warwick (Vice Captain). The money was raised at a function run by club members earlier in the season.
Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children receives a cheque for £500 from Ballymena Rugby Club First tXV captain, Martin Irwin. Also in the picture are Bill Wallace, Chairman, Tom Wiggins (Vice Chairman) and Andrew Warwick (Vice Captain). The money was raised at a function run by club members earlier in the season.

The game got underway with a strong wind in Ballymena’s favour but inside the opening minute the Braidmen lost in form number 8 Adrian Hamilton to a facial injury.

Ballymena used the wind well to gain the territorial advantage and it wasn’t long before they were awarded a penalty.

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Ballymena’s scrum half slotted the ball between the post to open the scoring, 0-3.

The remainder of the half was played out with the Braidmen showing some great attacking moves but a very stubborn ‘Hinch defence stood strong.

On the stroke of half time the home side was given a chance to level the scores when the Braidmen gave away a penalty in front of the posts which was duly kicked as the half ended level at 3-3.

The second half got worse for Ballymena as they lost another four influential players to injuries but the Braidmen battled on repelling wave after wave of attack from the home side.

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The game entered the final ten minutes where Hinch put the game to bed with three unanswered tries of which two were converted.

The final score was 22-3 but the score line did not show a true reflection of the game which on another day could have been a reversal of the score line. This game saw youngsters Adam Longwell and Andy Cundell make the debut for the senior squad.

With just one game left - at home to Banbridge on March 8 - Ballymena look unlikely to win the Senior League.

Before then, it’s back to the All-Ireland League promotuion chase this Saturday with a home game against Seapoint.

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Ballymena: Andrew Warwick, James Taggart, Bryan Young, Connor Smyth, David Whann, Mathew Rea, James Gallagher, Adrian Hamilton, Dave Shanahan, Martin Irwin, Jordan Foster, Paddy James, Callum Patterson, Darrell Montgomery, John Nicholl subs- Adam Longwell, Andy Cundell, Jonny McMullan, Simon Shaw, Glen Bailey

Related topics:Ballymena