Late score gives Ballymena Academy victory over BRA

On a bright and sunny morning, both teams were keen to play attacking and positive rugby and this made for an enjoyable and exciting spectacle for the supporters.

It was the Belfast school who opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a converted try when back row Stewart Martin showed power and determination to touch down from close range.

Ballymena missed a couple of penalty attempts, but were next to score when Brian Mulholland scored an outstanding individual try from well inside his own half.

Andrew Magrath converted to level the score but BRA dominated the remainder of the half and scored a well-deserved second try which their centre showed pace to go over in the corner.

Although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, the B.R.A. kicker added three points before half time with a penalty which saw the away team take a lead of 15–7 into the half time break.

The home team showed a much improved performance in the second half as they began to dominate territory and possession. Midway through the second half, following a Duncan Maguire line break, back-rower Josh McIlroy was on hand to round the full back for a try below the posts which Magrath converted.

The game remained tightly poised at 15–14 going into the final minutes. Ballymena continued to apply pressure on the B.R.A. line and were awarded a penalty.

Although the three points would have sufficed, Oliver Simpson immediately spotted a gap and was able to recycle the ball for Duncan Maguire to touch down for the winning try, which Magrath converted to leave the final score reading 21–15 to Ballymena Academy.

Ballymena Academy: Bashford, Gaston, Blackwell, Magrath, Kosch, Mulholland, Simpson; Gillan, Spence, Kirk, Barkley, Patterson, Fowler, McIlroy, Maguire.