There's positives to be taken from Ballymena loss

Banbridge 28

Ballymena 41

BANBRIDGE'S last outing before the start of the All-Ireland League campaign may have ended in defeat to a moderate Ballymena side.

But coach Daniel Soper will have taken heart from many aspects of his side’s display.

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The visitors had registered wins over Rainey and Ards and a defeat at the hands of Ballynahinch before their trip to Rifle Park. But after a bright start had allowed them to take a 15-3 lead with just 14 minutes played, they were forced to live off scraps for the remainder of the first half as Bann fought back to lead 16-15 at the break.

Three converted tries in a seven minute blitz at the start of the second half took Ballymena into what was to prove an unassailable lead. But Bann were not about to throw in the towel and as in the first period they dominated much of the remainder of the half, grabbing two more tries to allow the scoreline to more accurately reflect the balance of play.

If Bann had an edge in the forward battle, Ballymena had much the sharper backline, with centre Jonny Shiels and Ulster wing Tommy Seymour in particular always looking menacing.

Out-halves John Semple and Robin Thompson exchanges early penalties before Shiels showed his pace and power in brushing aside the last line of defence en-route to the try line, Semple adding the conversion.

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The attacking potency of the Ballymena back-line, together arguably with the fragility of the Bann defence, was again underlined in the 14th minute. Bann had secured lineout ball just outside the visitors’ 22. But when it was turned over Ballymena moved the ball down the narrow side and Seymour steamed in from 50 metres out for his side’s second try.

Thompson knocked over two fine penalties in the 17th and 28th minutes to keep his side in touch. And as Bann began to deny the opposition quality ball for prolonged periods, play in the closing stages of the half centred in and around the Ballymena 22.

Initially the pressure was relieved when Bann were penalised a metre short of the try line. But eventually an overhead pass put Shandon Scott in at the left hand corner, with Thompson’s superb conversion edging his side into a single point lead.

Four minutes after the break Ballymena were back in front, with hooker John Burns finishing off a drive from his pack. Four minutes later Ballymena counter-attacked after fielding a grubber kick into their 22, young lock David Whann finishing off after good support play.

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Bann’s mis-kicked re-start gave Ballymena a scrum on halfway. Scrum-half Blane McIlroy made a searing break off the base and linked with Seymour who grabbed his second touchdown. With Semple adding all three conversions Ballymena had opened up a 20 point gap in just seven minutes.

It was a lead Bann never looked like overhauling although they subsequently enjoyed prolonged periods of supremacy. Indeed so frantic were Ballymena’s efforts to keep their line intact that they were reduced to 14 men after the referee wielded his yellow card at a persistent offender.

Simon McKinstry and Ryan Patterson were both stopped short of the Ballymena line before Neville Farr’s darting run was halted two metres out by a high tackle. Two set scrums saw Ballymena penalised and when they again infringed with the Bann eight driving them back over their line, the referee awarded the home side a penalty try.

Six minutes from time, Semple’s cross-kick bounced kindly to allow Shiels to pick up his second try. But Bann again fought back and some slick hands put Geoff Thompson in at the corner for the final score.

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Soper can be pleased with the solid display by his pack, who secured good set piece ball and generally showed good ball retention. But there were defensive flaws which were exposed all too easily by a potent Ballymena threequarter line.

Few if any of the teams in AIL Division Three will be able to field a back-line to equal Ballymena’s, but there is still work to be done this week if Bann are to make a winning start at Barnhall on Saturday.

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