Convincing win for Ballymoney Fourth XV over rivals Armoy Firsts

Armoy First XV 0

On Saturday, Ballymoney Fourths played hosts to neighbours Armoy First XV in a Minor League game at the Kilraughts Road, and won convincingly by 32-0.

With a full squad available for this match, Captain John Waide was hopeful that the team would continue their excellent league form with another success, and they immediately made their intentions known with some strong forward play and superb running by the backline.

Inevitably, six minutes into the game, Ballymoney took the lead with a penalty converted by Brace, following an Armoy infringement at a ruck on the visitors’ twenty-two line.

This lead was extended three minutes later, when out-half Brace cut through the Armoy defence to score an unconverted try, putting the Ballymoney men 8-0 ahead.

The home pack continued to dominate the forward exchanges with Taggart, Richmond and McAuley working hard in the loose phases of play, while Gardiner and McAllister controlled the line-outs, handing the home backline plenty of ball and allowing them to penetrate the visitors’ defence with their open running. From a line-out on the Armoy twenty-two line, the ball was passed quickly to out-half Brace, who sliced through the Armoy backline to score a try which he converted, giving Ballymoney a 15-0 advantage.

Ten minutes from halftime, Ballymoney scored again when their fleet-footed hooker McAuley outpaced the Armoy defenders to score a try beside the posts, converted by Brace, leaving the halftime score 22-0 to the Kilraughts Road men.

The second half began where the first ended, with Ballymoney pinning Armoy back in their own half, but over exuberance and a lack of patience resulted in several missed scoring opportunities for the home side.

To their credit, Armoy were relentless in their efforts to play their way back into the game, but were unlucky not to score following a kick through in the Ballymoney half.

In the dying minutes, Ballymoney extended their lead further when Brace scored his next try to complete his hat trick, followed by second row Jerome McAllister, who powered over for another unconverted try, leaving the final score 32-0 to the Ballymoney men.

Captain John Waide commented: “This was a good result but some areas of our play need a bit of work. Overall, I am satisfied with the team’s performance today.”

BALLYMONEY U18’s OUTCLASS BALLYMENA

Ballymoney Under-18s travelled to eaton Park where they defeated Ballymena and too the league points.

Ballymoney went through phase after phase until Ballymena’s defence fell apart and winger Matthew Bell scored the first points with the conversion by Lee Culbertson.

Ballymena levelled matters before Bell extended Ballymoney’s lead with a converted try to leave it 7-14 at the interval.

After the break Ballymena scored an unconverted try before Ballymoney stepped up a gear with Outside centre James Orr touching and Lee Culbertson converting to make it 12-21.

Two penalties from Culbertson put an end to any Ballymena comeback. Daniel Brennan sealed the game with a try to make the final score 12-32 to Ballymoney U18’s.

Saturdays fixture is another match to look forward to when Ballymoney Rfc Academy take on Newry at home. KO time 11:30am 28th November.

For a full match report go to www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk