2s secure another win against Skins

On a dry afternoon at Kilraughts road, Ballymoney's 2nd XV took the field against familiar opponents Enniskillen 2s, for the third time this year - this time in the Crawford Cup quarter final. Despite comfortable scorelines in the first two fixtures, there was no complacency as they were both hard fought wins, only opening up in the last quarter.

Kicking off up the hill, Ballymoney played a solid opening period, working through phases and using Steele's box kick from scrum-half effectively. But the defensive line was firm, especially inside the 22, allowing both sides to sound each other out.

A breakthrough did come after 12 minutes - an apparently dropped ball was deemed to have come off the body, and a silky chip to himself allowed George McAuley to flick the loose ball up and release Aaron Brown for the opening try, and a 5-0 lead.

After another ten minute period followed with Ballymoney knocking on the door, with Joel Heggarty unlucky to be brought down by a high tackle by the last man. Then John Gilkinson got over the line for the second try. Some good carrying up front from Jack Alexander and Jordan Munnis drew in the defenders, and Linton was able to put Gilkinson in space on the outside. 10-0 - and with the conversion missed, not quite the clear breathing room that the first 20 minutes perhaps should have created.

A Philip Beattie try was disallowed shortly after - his magnificent dummy and slide through being hauled back for a much earlier foot in touch by McNeill; and whilst accurate, the delay in making the call frustrated the Toon men visibly.

And indeed as play wore on towards half time, Enniskillen worked their way back into the match, putting some of their own phases and moves together, and using the hill to clear their lines effectively.

Sure enough, from a loose Ballymoney clearance, the experienced fullback managed to find some space to break through midfield. Putting a grubber kick through to the corner, Ballymoney were first there but failed to deal with the situation, allowing Skins to attack from 15m out against a scattered defense, and sure enough they found the space to score next to the posts. With the conversion good, it was 10-7 at half time.

The second half started with the home side looking to step up the intensity at the contact area - and sure enough straight from the kick off Munnis scattered his defenders like skittles before eventually being hauled down 10m out, but Beattie was on hand to drive over the line and open a gap. McMullan converted this time for 17-7.

With subs Harry Orr and Jason Clyde adding their energy to the pack, Ballymoney were on the ascendancy. And it was captain Jonny Linton next over the line, with Clyde and Millar making the defenders collapse in, a good break from Brown and Bell in the centres down the right, and then the fly half put in a trademark show and go to dot down under the posts. Steele converted for 24-7.

The next score was another individual piece of skill from McAuley - this time the Skins number 8 picked from the base of a scrum, but the young toon flanker managed to rip the ball clean and show a clean pair of heels to the defenders. McMullan was on target with the conversion for 31-7.

With the match all but secure, a reshuffle in the backs brought Marc Tweed on at 9 and Steele at 10 for Linton, and in the pack Jack Anderson came back on to let Munnis run from number 8.

And despite the disruption, Ballymoney's defense held firm, with good tackling in tight from Millar and Lowry in the second row, and Gilkinson's boot gaining 50m every time for the clearance.

Eventually a final score was posted - this time a lineout 10m out and a rolling maul straight from the training ground allowed Beattie his second try of the afternoon.

All in all, a solid performance from Ballymoney against an improved Enniskillen side who are always well organised and tough to break down. The Crawford Cup semi final will be on the 2nd of March, with the draw still to come.

Before then the next two games are vital for the league campaign, as Ballymoney look to avenge their two defeats earlier in the season. First up is Omagh on 10th February at home, and then the trip to league leaders Dungannon on the 17th. Win both games and the league will come down to bonus points in the last two games in March.