Ballymoney Chronicle - Sports - Toon grind out win at Academy

Sports

Toon grind out win at Academy

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Academy 1st XV........5
Ballymoney 1st XV..15
Ballymoney 1st XV secured another valuable four league points in a hard fought win away to Academy on Saturday.
Academy won the toss and kicked off with the strong wind advantage but it was Ballymoney who controlled the possession. Ballymoney were awarded a number of penalties for Academy being caught offside at the ruck or killing the ball on the ground but with the strong winds the kick at posts was impossible. Instead Captain James Cleland kept the ball alive and with quick taps allowed the forwards to go on the charge again. Hanna, Campbell, Platt and Richmond all came close to scoring but the Academy forwards scrambled well and cleared the danger.
The line-outs were a lottery, however, the more agile Academy front jumper put good pressure on the Ballymoney lineout and stopped them from getting clean ball. From a careless penalty at the ruck from Ballymoney, Academy kicked the penalty to the Toon 22. A catch and drive from the Academy lineout caught Ballymoeny napping and some great off loading from the centre and then the back row allowed Academy to score the first points with a clever try. Again with the wind, the kick went wide but Academy lead 5-0 after their first venture into the Ballymoney half with 25 minutes played.
Ballymoney regrouped and set to the task again and kept the ball in the hands. Good runs from Bartlett and Chris Watson took the ball over the gain line. Richmond, on one of his trade mark barraging runs, forced his way over the try line but the Academy player ripped the ball from his hands but in doing so knocked it on. Ballymoney were awarded a scrum 5 metres out and with the line at their mercy put the pressure on Academy. The Academy scrum gave away a penalty and Cleland opted for the scrum again. On the second re-scrum Ballymoney pushed Academy towards the line and when the wheel came on Number 8 Richmond picked and when over the line for the score. The kick just right of the posts again when wide due to the strong winds, however Ballymoney levelled the score 5-5 as the half time whistle blew.
The second half started as the first half ended with the Toon men on the ascendency. However, the stern Academy defence halted a number of scoring chances. The Toon men's defence though was as strong as their attack and Academy couldn't create any clear cut scoring chances.
From a great kick by Cleland the ball went nearly 70 metres and gave the Toon a great platform. Some excellent play between backs and forwards saw Outhalf Henderson combine with centres Watson and Cleland to take a pass on the wing from Nigel Nevin. He used his strength to hand off two would-be defenders and score in the corner. Again the kick went wide but Ballymoney pressure had paid off as they lead now 10 - 5 with 15 minutes to go.
Within five minutes Ballymoney scored again and effectively ended the game as pressure from the forwards created space for them to smash over the line for their third try and the lead of 15-5. Ballymoney pressed for that fourth bonus point try and were unlucky, however, they went home with the four points to keep the pressure on at the top of the Section One league.