Improved display can’t prevent another defeat for Braidmen

DESPITE an improved performance from the previous week’s drubbing at Ballynahinch, Ballymena’s hopes of avoiding relegation from Division 1B of the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League suffered another setback on Saturday ,when they lost 17-32 to Blackrock College at Eaton Park.

Ballymena started well in front of the home crowd with some strong running from the forwards, but with six minutes on the clock, Blackrock opened the scoring with a penalty from an infringement at the break down.

Ballymena gathered the ball from the restart, and the forwards were making ground every time they went forward, and the young back line were looking dangerous.

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Against the run in play after 10 minutes, Blackrock found space in the Ballymena defence to send their winger over for the first try. The conversion was added to make the score 10-0.

On 17 minutes, Ballymena broke the Blackrock defence to put wing forward Connor Smith over in the corner for a well-deserved try. Callum Patterson missed the conversion as the scoreboard read 5-10.

The young Ballymena side had a spring in their step and were playing some great rugby. Unfortunately at 17 minutes, the ball took a wicked bounce that put Ballymena on the back foot and a well-rehearsed move from Blackrock released their out-half to go under the posts for a try. The extra points were added, to make the score 5-17.

Ballymena regained the restart and drove the ball deep into the Blackrock half, and it was only some last ditch tackling that prevented the Braidmen from scoring.

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Blackrock put a huge effort in defending their lines, and you could see their look of relief when at 38 minutes they cleared the ball deep into the the Ballymena half. Blackrock chased up fast, putting pressure on the Ballymena backs and on the stroke of half time, Blackrock were awarded a penalty for yet another infringement on the ground, and the out-half dispatched the kick between the uprights to make the half time score 5-20.

On 60 minutes, against the run of play, Ballymena found themselves going further behind as Blackrock who found space to go over the line for another try. The conversion was added, 5-27.

Ballymena gathered the restart again, and recycled the ball quickly to send their backs deep into the visitors half. After five minutes of sustained pressure, Ballymena were rewarded with a scrum on the Blackrock five-metre line.

After a few resets at the scrum, the referee finally awarded Ballymena with a penalty try, Blackrock could not cope with the power of Ballymena’s pack. Callum Patterson made no mistake with the conversion, 12-27.

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Time was running out for Ballymena and with five minutes left on the clock, Connor Smith was yellow carded for repeat offences at the break down. Blackrock made their extra man count when they found an overlap out wide to score. The conversion was missed, 12-32.

Ballymena showed their fighting spirits again when they won the restart, and this time the Blackrock defence couldn’t hold the braid men back. After a few drives from the forwards, Adrian Hamilton found space to charge over the line. Callum Patterson missed the conversion to leave the final score 17-32.

Ballymena: A Warwick, J Burns, M Irving, D O’Kane, I Caldwell, D Whann, C Smith, S Mulholland, I Vance, M Irwin, J Foster, C Patterson, D Montgomery, N Sterling, J Nichols. Subs: A Kirkpatrick, J Taggert, A Hamilton, M Rae, P Campbell.

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