A positive end to the season for Ballymoney 3XV

On a lovely, sunny Saturday afternoon for a pleasant change, the Toon men set of for Letterkenny. A mix-up with Google Maps meant they did arrive to just after 2 pm for a 2.30pm kick-off, not ideal preparation. With little or no warm-up, it wasn't long until Ballymoney found themselves 7 nil down. As Ballymoney finally found their feet, the forwards made good inroads and the backs, showing good hands and pace. It was the pace of the backs that opened the Toon account with Ruairi Hawthorne scoring in the corner and with the conversion being added to the score now 7 - 7.

Ballymoney went on the attack again with the next score coming from a quick tap penalty by Mark Cusick, who bounced any would-be tackler to score below the posts and the extras added. Halftime score 14 - 7 to Ballymoney.

It wasn't long into the second half until Luke Stewart, playing his 1st game for the 3XV, raced clear to score the Toon third try with the conversion added the scoreline 21 - 7. Ballymoney's fourth try and the bonus point was a length of the pitch try. Great defence turned Letterkenny over 5 metres outs and a few pick and goes, set the platform for the back to clear. They spotted a gap in the Letterkenny defence, quick hands set Paddy Cramsie free and he outpaced the covering defence to score in the corner. Unfortunately, the conversion was missed. Score 26 - 7. Letterkenny did get one back 26 - 14.

With 4 minutes left, Captain Neil Campbell asked for one more. Straight from the kick-off, Ballymoney recovered the ball and great interplay by the forwards and back released Adam Cusick to score the final try. Score 31-14. Special note to Luke Stewart and Paddy Cramsie; two School boys making the step up into Senior Rugby. Both didn't look out of place and have a great future ahead!