Comfortable win for Toon in Cup
Thursday, 13 November 2008
ON Saturday Ballymoney First XV travelled to Belfast Harlequins Second XV to play in the Junior Cup, with a few changes to the team it was Ballymoney who ran out comfortable winners by 50 points to 7.
Ballymoney kicked off the match with the wind in their favour and immediately showed their intentions wanting to run the ball at every opportunity. The first score of the game came from Martin Irwin when the Toon forwards set up a solid platform for out half Williams to release his backs, Irwin stood up his man and rounded him with ease for the opening score. 5-0 to Ballymoney. The second score came shortly after when a precise back move saw Irwin score his second and the Ballymoney tally was moved up to 12 points with Clelland getting the easy conversion. Quins to their credit kept attacking the Ballymoney line but the back row of Campbell, Bellingham and Surgenor kept any would be attack at bay. Ballymoney's third score came from winger Watson, good passing from the backline gave Watson the space for him to power through the last defender to score, converted by Clelland 19 - 0. There was time for one more score before half time for the Ballymoney team. A chip through from Williams saw Watson kick and chase the entire way to the try line for his second try taking the score to 24 nil to Ballymoney at half time.
The second half was more of the same for the Toon, now playing against the elements they kept the ball in hand much more and still were capable of getting over the white wash. It was Watson to get his hat trick when good hands from the back line saw him canter in, try converted to take the score to 31 - 0. It was Watson again to score his fourth of the game when he powered past three would be tacklers to take the score to 36 - 0. Quins then hit a bright spell in the game when they applied the pressure to the Ballymoney team, some silly mistakes and needless penalties allowed them to gain good territory near the Ballymoney line, after numerous phases of play they scored a well worked try to take the score to 36 - 7. Ballymoney hit back whit a length of the field try, Williams made the initial break for him to chip through for Irwin to pick up but be tackled short, the ever supporting Nelson picked up the ball to stroll in for the next try, taking the score to 43 - 7. Ballymoney had the last say in the game scoring their final try at the final whistle, when good work from the forwards set up the backs and Irwin to get his hat trick taking the score to 50 points to 7 at the final whistle.
Captain Dave Watson commented: "It was a good performance on Saturday, we had no pressure on us and we played the way we wanted to.
“It was good to see all the tries scored by the backs. Our defence was good apart from one lapse, but we will take credit from this performance and work towards Saturday's game at home against Donaghadee."
