Ballymoney 4s secure Away win to Strabane

Ballymoney 4s travelled to Strabane 2s and, after week off Ballymoney were keen to make their mark early. The men in blue missed a few early chances but with sustained forward-pressure from the experience of Aidy Graham and Danny Platt, it allowed the backs to open the play. Ryan Brace spotted an opportunity to break through the tackle and offload to Jonny Hanna who scored his first try of the day. The conversion was missed. 5-0 after 10 mins.

Ballymoney were excellent in the line out with Aidy Graham showing his talent stealing Strabane ball. The ball was put through the hands of Ruairi Hawthorne and Gavin Finney to put David Hodges away in the corner; the try was unconverted bringing the score to 10-0. Strabane were not giving up and managed to get numerous penalties in the Ballymoney 22; they their penalty bringing the score 10-3. Ballymoney restarted the game, some quick play enabled Sam Bartlett to score under the posts with Hodges converting. 17-3.

With the hosts trying to put pressure on Ballymoney, Rab Newton and Jonny Hanna pulled off some fine tackling. The visitors were able to steal the ball and quick hands form Stuart Finney put Brace away down the blind side to score in the corner. Bringing the score to 22-3 as the conversion was missed by Hodges again who struggled with the wind.

Ballymoney kept the pressure on, and a penalty deep inside the first half allowed Brace to kick for a line out 5m out. Jonny Waide secured the line out and quick thinking by the forwards allowed Jonny Hanna to score his second of the day. Unfortunately, the conversion was missed; 27-3 with 5 mins left of the first half. Strabane tried to play open the play but Hawthorne and Finney in the centre nullified the attack, and a turnover by Mark Lovell enabled the backs to break into Strabane 5m line. A quick ruck by the forwards allowed Hanna to think he scored…but his hattrick went begging as he knocked the ball on and was also short…bringing the first half to an end.

Ballymoney kicked off the second half and the 10 mins of rain was proving to cause concern for both sides with knock on after knock on which slowed the game. This enabled Ballymoney to bring on the bench with Neil Campbell and Jimmy Nevin going into the forwards to add fresh legs to the scrum, which proved beneficial allowing the visitors to put the ball through the hands for Hawthorne to score a well-deserved try with the conversions missed. 32-3.
Strabane managed to setup numerous attacks but could finish any of the opportunities off, as last-ditch tackles by Dean Kerry, and wayward passing by Strabane, showed it wasn’t an easy day against Ballymoney. This was empathised when Ballymoney played quick ball from a yellow card penalty, to ensure the backline got the ball wide, for Hodges to score in the corner with no conversion bringing the day to a close. A great away victory with Ballymoney 4XV winning 37-3.