“EMPHATIC WIN AGAINST LARNE”

“EMPHATIC WIN AGAINST LARNE”

Once again the U13’s hopped on a bus and made the journey to to port of Larne. Perfect conditions were awaiting the travelling lads and good news travels fast with the performances and results of the two previous weeks swelling the ranks of the U13’s to an incredible 20. Ballymoney were without their influential scrum half Lee Culbertson injured midweek with a gash to his knee but welcomed back Jack Finney to the fold and this was to be a great day for the number 8. Unlike the last two saturdays Ballymoney hit the ground running chasing the very first kick, rucked Larne off the ball and No8 Jack Finney picked up the loose ball and steamrolled his way over the line. Jack Doak converted. Score 0-7. From the restart B’money gathered the ball and strung no fewer than 8 phases of play together for Ashley Tweed to finish off what was to be the best move of the game. Gavin Finney converted. Score 0-14. This was to be the story for much of the first half. B’money were a joy to watch, textbook rugby in both ruck and scrum saw good retention of the ball and this allowed the B’money back line to run at the larne defence which saw Jack Doak draw his opposite number, sell him a dummy pass score a well deserved try which he himself converted.Score 0-21. Jack Finney was having a brilliant game crash ball saw him cross the line to score his 2nd. Gavin Finney converted. Score 0-28 B’money switched off for the only time in the game and a good pick up from the Larne No 6, handed off a couple of B’money tacklers to score under the posts and was converted. Score 7-28. Again the strong hard running of Jack Finney hammered the Larne line with good off the shoulder running allowed a wee pop pass into the waiting arms of Jamie McIntyre to allow the tight head to get in on the action crashing over from three yards.Score 7-35. Scrum half Brian O’Neill had big boots to fill and he did just that, a great take from a good restart saw the No 9 dart his way well into the Larne half and release the ever present Jack Doak to score. Conversion missed. Score 7-40. With half time approaching saw Jack Finney score his hat trick, another fine individual try with what looked to be half the Larne team hitching a lift, not to let that distract him he shrugged them off to cross the whitewash. Conversion missed. Half Time 7-45. A more relaxed team talk at half time followed by a little reminder not to switch off saw the U13’s run riot in the second half. Jack Finney got his fourth from a well worked line out on the Larne “22” saw the power of the No 8 which Larne had no answer to touch down in the corner. conversion missed. Score 7-50. Jack Doak just can’t stop scoring and he clocked up his third hat trick in as many games with a nice box kick from Brian O’Neill and slow reaction from the Larne full back allowed Jack to make the tackle get back on his feet, pick up and fall over the line. Conversion missed. Score 7-55. Credit to Larne they never lay down and made B’money work extremely hard for every ball. Again some great forward play saw the controlled aggression of No 2 Lewis Lyons cap off another good day at the office with a good pick up and he drove himself over the line. Gavin Finney converted. Score 7-62. There was just no stopping the lads from Ballymoney and guess who joined the backs this time to score his 5th yes his 5th try. Conversion missed. Score 7-67. Jack Doak showed that he could play anywhere taking the game to the Larne forwards bumping players far bigger than himself off with considerable ease to score his 4th. Conversion missed. Score7-72 With heads starting to drop the second half was reduced by 10 mins so from the last play of the game swift hands from forwards and backs alike saw Gavin Finney score a well deserved try. Brian McNeill converted. Full Time 7-79. This was an amazing performance from every single player including the replacements who slotted into their positions with ease. A real joy to watch. Man of the Match Jack Finney. On the back of this performance it’s looking like a very productive and enjoyable season. Training on Tuesday evening @ 6pm full turn required.
Report by Stephen Tweed.