Ballymoney 1st XV returned to competitive rugby on Saturday with a trip to Barban Hill where they faced Dromore in the first pool game in the Junior Cup. After two competitive pre-season games it was time to start again in Ernest.
Weather conditions were pretty good with the game kicking off in sunshine. Dromore started on the attack and opened the scoring within the first few minutes when the visitors gave away a penalty which Dromore converted. From the restart Dromore again applied the pressure and scored the opening try of the game.
Ballymoney started to get into the game and were pressing the Dromore defence but spurned the chance to get points on the board with a penalty inside the 22 was kicked dead.
The home side pressed again and stretched the score to 17-0.
On 18 minutes the job was made more difficult when Jordan Munnis received a red card for a high tackle on the halfway line; with the Toon down a man, the home side ran riot and scored several tries as Ballymoney struggled with the intensity of the home attack. Just on half time Ballymoney skipper Will Scott got himself on the score sheet, conversion missed leaving the half time score 34-5.
A much-improved Toon side went out in the second half and in a much tighter half gave Dromore a real go but were unfortunate not to trouble the scoreboard and with Dromore scoring one try the game ended 41-5.
Afterwards Chris McIlmoyle said, “Dromore started very strong and we had our opportunities however, once we received the red card it was damage limitation time. The second half saw a vast improvement and we will build on the positives, and work hard this week, as we travel to Bangor on Saturday for the opening league fixture of the season.”