Captain Dologhan leads Bann U13s to win

Bann started the game retaining their own kick-off and the pairing of captain Tom Dologhan and Mathew Reid made breaks from rucks and re-cycled to allow Dologhan to score the first try.

Play swung from end to end and Ballymena scored before further tries for the home side from out-half Eoin Rice and number eight Dologhan. Ballymena neutralised those two, with two tries.

The work ethic in the second half made Bann look more hungry and victory seemed to be within their grasp, but they took their foot off the gas and allowed Ballymena to come back and score.

Bann’s ball-carrying forwards Jack Dorman and Robert Mathers came on to settle the pack and provide more experience. With the ever-impressive Karl Heslip moving into tight head, momentum was now in Bann’s favour. They were now playing with their heads up and constantly looking to off-load to the supporting runners, allowing Howard, Hugo Bertholon and Jake Beattie to score within the last ten minutes and seal victory. This was a great result, in horrendous conditions.

Man of the match deservedly went to Dologhan for playing and leading like a captain.