Superb away performance for 3rds at Ballymena
On Saturday the Toon 3rds travelled to Eaton Park to play fourth place Ballymena RFC 3rd XV in an Ulster Rugby Provincial North League match and put in a tremendous performance to win, writes Uel McDowell.
Ballymoney kicked off into a very strong wind and immediately were put on the backfoot by the Ballymena outhalf who used the wind to great effect. This kept the Toon men pinned in their own half but to a man they defended resolutely with Dean Kerry, Andy McNougher and DD Barkley putting in great tackles on the opposition, regardless of what Ballymena threw at them.
Captain Neil Campbell led from the front with some sterling work as did Jimmy Nevin and the rest of the forwards as they absorbed all the Ballymena pressure time and time again. How long they could maintain this intense defensive display was the question. With ten minutes to half time, Ballymena eventually broke through the Ballymoney ranks to score an unconverted try between the posts.
The Toon mens heads never dropped and their relentless tackling and kick clearances and nice back play kept the Braidmen at bay. Just on the stroke of half-time, Ballymena got a lucky break to run in behind the posts for another unconverted try to lead 10-0 at half-time.
Ballymoney Captain, Neil Campbell, knew at half-time that this game was not over and gave the lads a powerful and encouraging team talk. Gavin Finney was moved to centre and Matthew Johnston moved into second row. This was a very tactical move. Game on.
Instead of using the wind to their advantage, the Toon kept the ball in hand and ran at Ballymena at every opportunity and this was paying dividens as it was Ballymena who were now under pressure to protect their lead.
The Toon were winning their fair share of the line-outs with Johnny Waide disrupting the Ballymena throw- ins and the rest of the forwards controlling the resultant rucks. This strong work gave scrum-half, Peter McConaghie, good clean ball to distribute to Logan McIntyre at out-half.
Fifteen minutes into the half the Toon scored the first of their two tries. A superb break down the wing by Andy McNougher set up a classic try between the posts for out-half Logan McIntyre, which was converted by Gavin Finney.
Five minutes later, the Toon surged ahead with another wing break and great support play by Andrew Gilmour to score beside the posts. Unfortunately the strong wind blew Gavin Finney’s conversion inches wide and the Toon were now ahead 10-12.
The Braidmen now knew they had a game and attacked at every opportunity. However, the Ballymoney men stuck to their task and wouldn’t allow Ballymena any space and with Logan McIntyre now using the wind to the Toon’s advantage, they kept pegging Ballymena back into their twenty-two.
With a minute to go, Ballymena surged towards the Toon try line and looked to score but by meticulous defending the Toon held the ball up. From the tryline drop out, Ballymoney secured the ball through winger Andy McNougher, who was tackled into touch and at that point the Referee blew the whistle and the Toon men had won 10-12.
A breathless Neil Campbell commented “ This was an excellent all round team performance by a very young 3rds squad. I am really proud of the way we played.The whole team deserved to be named Men of the Match after this result and especially at Eaton Park. Well done, lads”