Derby Day Success for the Toon as playoff place secured.

At a sunny packed Kilraughts Road, The JKC BMW / Causeway Geotech sponsored Ballymoney 1st XV entertained near neighbours in the final league game of the season , Coleraine already assured second spot in the league with the Toon needing a win to ensure a place in the top 4 and the prospect of promotion to Qualifying League 1 .

Jordan Munnis returned at no 8 replacing Will Scott who was injured on Junior Ulster duty with Chris Watson re-joining Dennis Posternak in the centre with Matty Bell also returning on the right wing.
In what is always a tight affair, Ballymoney knew that although they secured a bonus point win away to Lisburn , their performance level would need to go up a few notches in order to beat a Coleraine side which narrowly defeated them in mid December .
The home side started with great intent and at a fierce tempo and within the first six minutes were ahead . A clearance kick by the Coleraine outhalf from a scrum deep inside the 22 was charged down and the loose ball was gathered by Jordan Munnis and crashed over the line and with fullback Laughlin adding the conversion and to the joy of the home support , led 7-0 .
On twenty minutes Coleraine were awarded a penalty just inside the Ballymoney half , this was awarded as Coleraine were applying considerable pressure on the Ballymoney scrum , Coleraine opted to kick narrowing the lead to 7-3.
Coleraine started to apply a bit more pressure on the home side and with the Toon starting to give away a few penalties Coleraine took the lead on 25 minutes , a number of pick and drives by the Coleraine pack led to a try between the posts which was easily converted by the Coleraine kicker .
Ballymoney7-Coleraine 10.
On 35minutes The Toon pulled the score back to 10 apiece , Coleraine going off their feet at a ruck , Laughlin kicked the penalty and with no further score in a tense and exciting first half the halftime was 10-10 .
In the first few minutes of the second half Ballymoney were again penalised for a no arm tackle just outside their own 22, Coleraine easily dispatched the kick putting their noses in front again 13-10.
It was not until midway through the second half Laughlin pulled Ballymoney level when he converted a penalty just outside the 22 after previously missing one a few minutes before from wide out left .
As we entered the last twenty minutes Ballymoney were now having the lions share of possession and within a period of 10 minutes the home side were denied two stonewall tries , the first by Laughlin and the second by Beattie as the referee adjudged on both instances that the ball was not grounded giving Coleraine the chance of two occasions to clear their lines.
As a draw was looking more and more likely Coleraine conceded a penalty with minutes to go just in front of the posts as the Toon forwards were dominating the lineouts . This gave Laughlin the chance to nose Money in front and he duly added the 3 points . Coleraine tried to get back into the game in the final minutes but a scrum on the last play saw the ball recycled back to Irwin who booted it off the park to record a narrow 16-13 victory .
This ensured the top 4 playoff place and with Ards beating Donaghadee the Toon finished 3rd meaning a return trip to Coleraine next Saturday and with two places up for grabs in Division 1 it leaves the winners of next weeks game with certain promotion as well as the possibility of winning the league.
After the game Chris McIlmoyle said “ This was a must game win for us to ensure we qualified for the playoffs , Marty and Bryan worked the fellas really hard at training this week and I thought everyone to a man was outstanding today .Our defence was excellent and apart from a period midway through the first half half our discipline was much improved on last week .Skipper Dave McKeeman I felt was man of the match , his work rate around the park, his lineouts and the big hits he put in were awesome , a real captains performance .
We expect another Titanic battle next week as we go down the road to Coleraine in the playoff , a game we are relishing .We will enjoy today but will work hard this week in preparation for the battle in Coleraine , these are the games as a player you look forward to and with two promotion places this season , the winner of this game will look forward to playing Qualifying 1 rugby next season .
I think it’s a huge credit to the area with the three top teams in the league coming from Limavady , Coleraine & Ballymoney and a huge credit must go to our own players and coaches who have stepped up to the mark and have finished the season as strongly as we have .A huge thanks too to everyone who attended the game and supported our club throughout the season .We really do relish the support you give us and roll on next Saturday !”