2XV secure hard fought win against a well organised Portadown side

On a busy weekend for rugby Ballymoney 2s took the field against Portadown, looking for a good win to apply pressure on the leaders in the last two games of the season.

With a little disruption in preparation it was Portadown who started the stronger, with a spell of possession and working through their patterns, but unable to break down the Toon defensive line.

But after 15 minutes, Ballymoney opened the scoring much against the run of play. On their first foray into the away 22, Blair spotted a gap from the lineout, and Mulholland charged through. The last defender brought him down just short of the line, and a quick ruck gave Adam Donnelly the space to barge over on the right.

But Portadown were continuing to play their game, with long spells of possession, and Ballymoney relied on Gilkinson's heavy boot to clear on several occasions.

Fortunately, the next try also went the way of the home side - also largely against the run of play. Again from a lineout, this time Millar went around the corner and close to the line, and Jordan Munnis was able to pick and burrow over from close range. McMullan added the extras for a 12-0 lead - fairly clinical given the few opportunities so far.

It was inevitable that with so much of the play, eventually Portadown did get over the line. A wide play through the back led to a great cover tackle by Jack Hart. But a subsequent penalty and some over-eager defending left a gap for their prop to wriggle over and touch down.

At half time a 12-5 was not where Ballymoney wanted to be - a renewed focus on discipline and execution were required in the second half.

And indeed it was simple, effective rugby that got the scoreboard moving again. Aaron Brown broke through the middle, and a good ruck allowed Tweed to find McMullan taking a hard line on the angle to crash over.

The next try was a forwards affair - from a spell where the home side won every scrum and lineout, a series of drives close to the line eventually offered Neal Mulholland the chance to pick and stretch his long arm over the line. McMullan converted for 24-5, and finally both the bonus point and the win were secure.

The last score was to come soon after - with a chip and chase up the blind side getting the territory, and a turnover from the lineout secured the ball. Russell Blair charged up the middle, and from the next ruck McMullan again came around the corner and wrestled his way over the line next to the posts.

With the conversion good, a hard fought 31-5 win was secured against a well organised Portadown side. The return match on the 23rd will be the last game of the league season, and both sides will look to finish strong.