Toon suffer defeat in Junior Cup clash

After finishing 2023 on a high with a Home League win to Grosvenor, JKC/Causeway Geotech sponsored Ballymoney 1st XV made the first of two trips in successive weeks, to face Enniskillen in the final group game of the Junior Cup. With both sides already qualified, the winners of this game would have a home advantage in their quarter final game in early February.

The game kicked off in cold but bright conditions, and both sides signalled their intent to win the tie with high intensity rugby. Ballymoney attacked straight from the start but good home defence thwarted this. It took until the half hour mark until the first score was registered, with the Toon penalised inside their 22, Skins tapped and attacked the line, Ballymoney turned them over but a failed touch clearance gave the home side the chance to attack again and moved the ball wide to score in the right hand corner conversion added from touchline, Skins 7-0 to the good. Ballymoney lost David Brown to a head injury, replaced by Andrew Stevenson.

Ballymoney continued to work hard and got their rewards right at the end of the half, the forwards battered at the line drawing in the defence and then the ball, was moved wide and Marty Irwin scored the try in the corner, conversion added by Andy Young. Half time score 7-7 in an evenly contested game.

Unfortunately for Ballymoney, Enniskillen started the second half strongly and scored two tries early doors in the second half, stretching the lead to 21-7 and midway through half scored another try taking the game away from the Toonmen. However, the visitors kept playing and were rewarded with a second try when the forwards hit it up before it was swung left and Owen Boyd crossed the line, narrowing the advantage to 28-12.

A further try by Skins reaffirmed their lead to 35-12 but Ballymoney fought to the end and an Andy Young try and conversion 5 minutes from the end, left the home side victors by a 35-19 scoreline.

‘Disappointed not to win the game however we knew we’d be in for a difficult game today' said Will Scott 'It was a very tightly contested first half but unfortunately we slipped off a bit early on second half and were punished by a strong Skins side. We continued to play to our game plan and came back with two tries which we will take positives from. We return here next week in the League so we work hard through the week on the training pitch to improve on our game and return with confidence and self belief in ourselves. Thanks too to those who made the long journey to support the team , it is greatly appreciated.’