Hard work is rewarded

The Tigers opened the scoring when Tom Lavery crashed over the Ballymena line midway through the first half after a period of pressure which saw the Tigers backs create a number of chances.

Some disputed refereeing from the home officials saw the home team go ahead just before half time with a converted try.

A good half time team talk over, the Tigers came back strongly in the second half and went close through Theo Dixon and Ben Davidson.

With ten minutes to go the Tigers were awarded a rare penalty and after good hands from Jack Dunn and Luke Forsythe, Ryan Holmes skated over for the winning try.

Credit goes to the home team who through everything at the Tigers. But a combination of good defensive work from the Tigers and some poor decision making on their part saw the Tigers home and into the Bowl final.

Thanks go to the large number of parents and others who travelled in support of the squad.

Despite some very poor refereeing, the squad kept their discipline and shape and played some great running rugby especially in the second half.

They can look forward to a final on the 26th April with a real chance of bringing home some silverware to Pollock Park. The squad are pictured (below) at training before Saturday’s match along with head coach Noel Irwin.

Squad: Peter Hutchinson, Zac Davidson, Ryan Holmes, Alex Dixon, Joshua Richardson. Ben Davidson, Ryan Allen, Theo Dixon, Rodney Craig, Josh Best, Conor Foster, Jack Turkington, Daniel Hannon, Tom Lavery (Captain), Alex Burns, Jon Woods, Jack Dunn. Luke Forsythe, Ryan Holmes, Cormac Brophy and Paddy Lappin.