Seconds bounce back from Armagh defeat against Ballymena

Ballymena Seconds 26

AFTER last week’s dismal showing against Armagh, the Seconds had the opportunity to put some of the things right against Ballymena.

Despite starting the game so brightly, they were eventually overtaken by the visitors with just two minutes on the clock for a 26-23 defeat.

Bann had started the game in confident mood, with them asking all the questions both in attack and defence, especially in tackles where the aggression and organisation was evident. This early pressure, including a dominant pack taking ball against the head, had managed to pin Ballymena in their own half.

On the 15 minute mark, as they attempted to relieve the pressure from Bann they were penalised for holding on in the tackle, leaving Clark McAllister a straightforward three points from the 22.

Two minutes later the visitors had to resort to relieving their line with kicks, but centre Albert Finney was alert to this, and he charged the kick down, collected and touched down. McAllister impressively added the extras from the touchline for a deserved 10-0 lead.

Bann continued in the driving seat, with the totally dominant scrum taking ball at will, and also some good counter-rucking forcing mistakes. On 25 minutes, it was from one of these that a further penalty was conceded, and McAllister duly converted to stretch the score to 13-0.

On the half hour mark Bann registered their second try. Again it was forged initially through the forwards when they harried the defence inside the opposition 22.

A solid scrum again produced clean ball for the backs and when Colin Hamilton sent the ball out, McAllister joined the line to take the ball and impressively evade the defence to score. He added the points to stretch the lead to 20-0.

The first half drew to a close with two ultimately game-changing incidents taking place. The first was when the home side conceded a penalty to reduce the deficit to 20-3, but more importantly the Ballymena hooker had to retire injured, resulting in uncontested scrums for the rest of the game.

The second half was barely one minute old when Ballymena were gifted a simple try. From the kick off they secured possession taken all too easily off a Bann maul, and then the Ballymena centre was able to weave without being solidly tackled to score. The conversion was missed, but the Braidmen were now building renewed confidence.

Ten minutes later it certainly was game on when they scored their second try bring the score to 20-15. This time a very flat pass from the lineout put a Ballymena centre through a gap in a dog-legged Bann defence.

Although Bann seemed to really wake up at this stage, increasing the lead with 25 minutes to go through a McAllister penalty, it was the visitors who finished the stronger. As Bann seemed to run out of steam, any momentum they built up ended in minor mistakes, but unlike the first half, they were unable to retrieve the ball via the scrum.

Two penalties reduced the score to 23-21 in the last ten minutes, as the home defence began to lose its shape. With two minutes left Ballymena moved the ball through their three-quarters to find enough space to race in for the winning try.

Although Bann performed with more passion and cohesion they must learn from this result that they have to control games when in the lead, and also how to adapt with the unforeseens such as uncontested scrums.

Although most players upped their game from the previous week’s debacle it would be unfair not to mention hooker Lee Allen for his play about the park - constantly getting to the break-down before others.

McAllister also looked sharp, contributing a try and 13 points from the boot.