RUGBY: Instonians prove too strong for Ballyclare

Ballyclare's Gary Clothworthy scored his side's only try against Instonians.

The city side went 3-0 up from a penalty and the game was quite flat with both teams guilty of handling errors, resulting in a stop-start type of match.

A last-ditch tackle by Ballyclare prop David Lawther prevented a certain score for the hosts before Ballyclare finished the half in the ascendency.

But Instonians took control after the break and soon doubled their lead with a wind-assisted long-range penalty.

From the kick-off, the ball was quickly recycled to set up a score close to the posts with the conversion stretching the lead to 13-0.

Soon, another three points were added from a penalty, and then followed an unconverted score, when a powerful home wing-forward broke through the defence.

A yellow card meant Inst finished the game a man short, and Ballyclare made their numerical superiority count when centre Gary Clotworthy went in under the posts for a score he converted with a drop-kick.

All in all, it was an untidy game with Instonians making better use of the elements.