Toon seal the points against the Ports at home

Saturday saw the long awaited return to Kilraughts Road for the JKC/Causeway Geotech sponsored Ballymoney 1st XV with their first home game in 2024; Portadown were the visitors as league duties return following the Town’s Cup quarter final victory against Armagh two weeks ago.

Jack Dowey returned at hooker, Brown, Pollock & Scott started in the back row with the bomb squad made up of Blair, Bleakly & McKeeman.

Ballymoney started brightly however fell behind on Portadown’s first visit into the 22 inside the first five minutes. David Brown drew the home men level when he crashed over from short range after a good break into the Ports 22.

Portadown again attacked the Toon line but a great turnover by Marty Irwin saw the ball break to Jack Dowey who kicked and regathered the ball before offloading to support runner Curtis Pollock who scored the try, converted again by Andy Young; score 14-7.

Five minutes before the half, Portadown scored their second; following a yellow card to Matthew Pollock, Money were again penalised at the scrum and, with the heavy Ports pack electing to scrum, the ball was flung out wide, where their winger crossed in the corner. Conversion missed, half time score in an entertaining game 14-12 in favour of the Toonmen.

Five minutes after the restart with Ballymoney playing towards the clubhouse, they further stretched their lead. From a penalty on halfway, Aaron Gervais kicked to the corner where Marcel claimed the lineout and a huge drive saw ‘LowGear’ Matty Blair crash over giving Ballymoney a 19-12 lead.

Ballymoney at this stage looked pretty much in control, however errors and incorrect decisions meant they didn’t add further to the score. With 15 minutes left, an intercepted pass gave the Port centre a run in below the posts and the visitors had now drawn level.

With less than 10 minutes left Portadown conceded a penalty within kicking range and Andy Young added the vital 3 points giving Ballymoney the narrowest of leads, but they continued to press and were unlucky not to secure the bonus point when a dropped pass within yards of the touchline let Portadown off the hook. Following a scrum on half way line the Toon secured the ball and kicked it off the field to close in on a vital home win and another four points secured. Final score 22-19 .

“Delighted with the win but disappointed not to secure the bonus point” said Marty Irwin after the game. “It was a tough, physical battle against a very good Portadown side, but to beat them both home and away shows you we’re are heading in the right direction. I felt we dictated the game in general and we left a few scores out there if I’m perfectly honest. We need to be more clinical in the opponent’s 22 at times but this is something we will continue to work at. Some fine individual performances today with Curtis Pollock and Lewis Hawthorne very impressive however, Jack Dowey was Man of the match with an all-action performance.

We still have so much to play for this season with the aim of a top 4 finish not an impossibility and, next week we head to City of Derry for a Quarter Final clash in the Junior Cup so, there is an awful lot to work towards in training this incoming week. Thanks again to the support on the sidelines, its great to be back home after such a run of away games.”