Two vital points for Seconds

Dromore Seconds 54

FOLLOWING a lengthy five week lay-off, the league got back on track this week for Dromore Seconds with an away fixture at Eaton Park, Ballymena.

The team was captained this week by Kyle Copeland who opted to play the position of tight head prop due to injuries and unavailability up the club.

The match kicked off under good conditions with Dromore immediately putting the pressure on Ballymena. A surge and try from winger Brian McClernon was disallowed as he apparently crossed the dead ball line.

This set the tone for the first half with Ballymena being pinned in their own half. Dromore lost winger Lloyd McDonald at this point due to a pulled hamstring.

Down to 14 men Dromore were awarded a scrum inside the Ballymena 22 allowed scrum half John Russell to charge over for a well deserved five points.

Continued ball retention by Dromore released the backs for two more converted tries by Chris Perry and Brian McClernon, exploiting a weakness in the Ballymena back line. The score at half time was 19-0 to Dromore.

The second half started with Ballymena taking the play to Dromore. The Barban Hill men dug in and then returned the favour with a fine driving forward try from Aaron Stinson. This change around opened the flood gates with further tries from Chris Perry and John Russell.

Dromore saved the best to last with outhalf Stevie Nolan scoring two interception tries in his own 22 and converting both. This took his individual points tally to 24, with the final score being 54-0 to Dromore.

Captain Copeland remarked after the match that he thought the team would be rusty after the long break but a determined effort secured two vital league points going into the second half of the season.