Sponsorship boost for Eaton Park Third XV

BALLYMENA RFC has further strengthened their ties with local business in the town.

The Spinning Mill Bar, located on Broughshane Street, have sponsored a new set of playing shirts for the Eaton Park Third XV.

The brand new kit didn’t have the desired effect as the Thirds went crashing out of the Crawford Cup on Saturday to an excellent Armagh Second XV at Eaton Park on Saturday.

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The away side, strengthened by the fact their First XV didn’t have a fixture, were superior in every facet of play throughout the game.

They started with two quick tries to make the score 12-0 after five minutes.

The home side were putting everything in but before a quarter of the way through the game the score was increased to 22-0 after superb handling by the Armagh backline.

Ballymena rallied and began to exert some influence on the game.

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Another good performance in the back row by Chris Allen, backed up by Davy Gaston in the second row led to sustained pressure in Armagh territory but the home side couldn’t find the killer pass and just before the half the wind was taken from their sails when Armagh turned the ball over, broke clear and scored under the posts to leave it 29-0 at the interval.

The second half was played in much the same vein as the first with Armagh racking up the scores, running Ballymena ragged all over the pitch.

The Armagh back row, in particular the No 8, had a fine day, scoring five tries between them.

Ballymena had no answer to the onslaught and after several more tries the referee blew the much welcomed final whistle leaving the final score at 64-0 to the away side.

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Currently sitting top of the league above Ballymena and now into the quarter finals of the Crawford Cup silverware is surely bound for the Palace Grounds this season.

On a happier note, Ballymena Fourth are through to the semi final of the Forster Cup and the Fifth XV through to the semi final of the McCambley Cup, beating Carrick III and Ballyclare IV respectively at the weekend.

Thirds: N Hill, B McGookin, R Adair, J Archer, D Gaston, K Doherty, P Reid, C Allen, B Gillen, S Johnston, D Smith, I Darcy, R Smith, P Gregg, S McMaster.

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