Toon edged out in cracking encounter

ON Saturday Ballymoney fulfilled their last away fixture of their league campaign, away to Armagh.

Armagh are currently battling it out with City of Derry at the Top of Kukri Qualifying One for a potential place in the play offs to make a move into the All Ireland league.

Stakes are that high and the two sides are so close that it has come down to the amount of bonus points the sides have to determine the winner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballymoney went into the game aware of the fact that Armagh were going to come all guns blazing towards the Ballymoney try line to get their four tries and would not lie down easily.

The game started on tender hooks with neither team wanting to give away any silly ball which could potentially lead to a try. Early exchanges were intense with big tackles being made and quality defence being displayed from both sides.

It was going to be a long day. Despite the quality of defences from both sides were keen to play open and flowing rugby utilising both dynamic forwards and pacey backs to make breaks.

Ballymoney stood strong for a good period of the first half and were helped by their supporters to maintain their pace and aggression.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Despite this Armagh eventually created an over lap and made a break down the short side. It became a foot race between the Armagh winger and the Ballymoney defence, Armagh scored and took their first try of the game.

Armagh got the taste for blood and began to pile on the pressure. The forward battle was a major player in this game and showed the quality of organisation within the workhorses of either team. Line outs were competitive and Ballymoney spoiled the Armagh possession regularly. Scrums were equally well contested, Armagh were able to show their power and bulk but despite this Ballymoney were still able to turn over three or four on the day.

The Toon men were able to take some points before the half through the boot of James Cleland. However they went another try down just before half time through a period of sustained pressure in the Ballymoney 22 which sucked in the Ballymoney defence and allowed their out half some space to break through and off load to a team mate to score between the posts.

The second half was as highly competitive as the first. Ballymoney made inwards towards the Armagh 22 only to lose the only lineout they lost of the day and allow Armagh to gain some yardage into the Ballymoney half, they then Knocked on and it was Ballymoney’s scrum which again pressure was piled onto and resulted in Armagh possession. Ballymoney organised their defence but the first soft tackles of the day allowed their playmaker out-half to break another gap and score their next points.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballymoney then got frustrated and showed their fighting spirit.

Consistent pressure allowed Ballymoney to get into the Armagh 22.

Pressure from the Ballymoney scrum then turned over a Armagh line out deep in the 22, the forwards rumbled and the ball was knocked on by an Armagh man quick thinking from scrum half Brett Nicolas played the advantage and offloaded to supporting runner Alex Hueston for him to cross the line.

Ballymoney got another try through their full back captain James Cleland when good interplay from the Ballymoney backs allowed him to break the home defence and cross the line again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballymoney’s backs were a formidable force on Saturday and looked dangerous all over the park. They had all found confidence to keep the ball in hand and take the ball to the Armagh side which made for some spectacular breaks and attractive rugby being played.

The game eventually reached the later stages and pressure began to mount the score was tight and a score either way could win the game.

The next points fell to Armagh when through a half break Armagh got into the Ballymoney 22. They then had an overlap which encouraged out half Martin Irwin to go for the interception, he was unable to collect the pass knocked the ball on. The referee then was forced to award a penalty try to the home side.

This took the final score to 25 -15 in the home side’s favour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Captain James Cleland, said: “Today was one of the most enjoyable games we have played this season, both teams were out to play good rugby and not to find ways to prevent the other team from playing.

“It is just sad that there has to be a winner at the end of a game like that. I wish good luck to Armagh in their promotion battle.”

Related topics: