Coleraine Inst taught a lesson as focused Academy cruise to victory

Despite a solid win over Dalriada midweekand a10-8 win over Academy earlier in the season, Ballymena were good value for their victory.

The hosts were energised from the start and managed to regather ball off a loose CAI pass from a scrum and paced in to score a converted try early on. Ill-discipline from Coleraine throughout the rest of the first half resulted in three penalties for offside, all of which were converted leaving the score 16-0 at half time.

On 39 minutes a Ballymena try in the corner took the score to 23-0.

Inst finally responded when After a period of prolonged pressure out half Callum Smith sent a chip kick over the Ballymena defence and Smith outpaced the home defence to score close to the posts.

The conversion was missed but CAI were now undoubtedly now in the ascendency.

Coleraine again sparked to life with a great team try when Greatorex;s perfectly timed offloadto flanker Alastair Corbett who slid into score in the corner.

The conversion was also missed and the score moved to 23-10.

The game was now a much more even encounter and Coleraine looked to be actually playing to their ability however on 58 minutes Ballymena received a penalty 15 yards out.

Coleraine appeared to have gone asleep and with a chip kick over the CAI line the referee awarded the try to complete the scoring.

Although a disappointing result some players performances stood out from the first blow of the whistle to the last. Thomas Lavery proved to be a rock in defence and strong going forward.

Matthew Norris and Niall Cameron both came back and added a much needed flare in attack to the Inst backline. Man of the match must go to Alastair Corbett who led by example in attack and defence and put in a performance of what many players aspire to achieve.

* Coleraine Inst Seconds travelled to Ballymena Academ,y and went down 16-12. The visitors trailed 13-0 but got back into it with an uncoverted try by Christi Hamilton.

Ill discipline allowed Ballymena to extend their lead to 16-5 but Coleraine weren’t finished yet andcaptain Gabriel Mawhinney dived in at the corner with Ali Telfer kicking the coversion. But it was too little to late.