Rugby men clinch promotion in All-Ireland League

BALLYMENA clinched a return to Division 1B of the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League at the first time of asking on Saturday with a comprehensive 48-11 win over Terenure.

The Braidmen were in the happy position of knowing that, despite several permutations depending on the outcome of matches elsewhere, that their promotion destiny was in their own hands and they didn’t disappoint with a victory which sees them finish third in Division Two,

From the kick-off Ballymena looked focused on the job in hand with a strong start and immediately putting Terenure under pressure. However the visitors bounced back and it was they who took the lead with a penalty from out-half Mark O’Neill.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballymena were quick to respond and with an excellent kick into space by Martin Irwin resulting in the defender being caught by the follow up, the home team were awarded a penalty which David O’Hara duly converted to draw level.

With the opposition now on the back foot Jamie Smith broke two or three attempted tackles to find Tommy Seymour who almost made the try-line. With good support Terenure infringed and Ballymena were awarded another penalty. This time they opted for a scrum and Ross Hackney scored the first try of the game. O’Hara converted to open up a 10-6 lead.

The game evened out in the middle of the pitch for a period during which Terenure lost their scrum- half. They then reduced the deficit with another penalty from O’Neill.

This spurred Ballymena back into action an another fine backline move saw O’Hara into space where he found support from Roger McBurney who scored under the posts. The try was again converted by O’Hara to leave the half-time score 17–6 in favour of the home team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The second half started with an attack from the visitors and they won a penalty as a result of their pressure, however this time they were wide of the post. Ballymena came back at them and they won a penalty which O’Hara successfully kicked to extend the lead to 20-6.

It was one way traffic after this with the impressive Jamie Smith playing his last game for Ballymena - for now at least - breaking the line again to race through and under the posts. The simple conversion made it 27-6.

Terenure tried to respond however a dropped pass was pounced on by John Burns who had replaced James Carson. Burns showed he had pace by running 50 metres untouched to score Ballymena’s fourth and promotion winning try. Again the successful conversion left the 34-6.

Ballymena didn’t ease up and in another attack the man of the match Paul Prithard smashed through attempted tackles to find Seymour who raced in Ballymena’s fifth try of the game, again converted to extend the lead to 41-6.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Terenure kept trying and were rewarded with a try of their own from replacement Harry Moore. The conversion was missed. There was still time for Ballymena to score again before they started their celebrations. A very well judged box kick from the impressive Blane McIlroy was followed up and superbly taken by Seymour - another playing his last game for the club - who slipped past desperate attempts to tackle to score the ‘try of the match’, under the posts.

David O’Hara kicked the conversion to finish the match on 100% success with his boot and a points total of 18.

Related topics: