UlsterNet.co.uk

Ballyclare surrender Hall Cup to Larne

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

BALLYCLARE 1st XV travelled to Glynn on Boxing Day to play a fully motivated Larne side for the Hall Trophy. The Seconds of both clubs also faced each other but the Clare Seconds were far from full strength with only a couple of regulars involved and they went down 18-7.
In the 1st XV game, the home team from Qual. 3 proved sharper and fully deserved the 19-15 victory. The Hall Cup is based on the total scores and Larne easily re-claimed the trophy which has been at the Cloughan for many seasons.
Larne 19
Ballyclare 15
Despite the snow and frost the grounds at the Glynn were in good condition as Ballyclare started strongly with Morrow kicking to the corner. A drive by Logan made ground to allow Russell to cross kick but just too strongly. Then in another Clare attack a try should have came on the right side.
Larne eventually came forward and with the visitors off-side Garrett kicked the penalty to lead 3-0. But after a strong run from Logan, Brown penalised Larne and Russell leveled score with a penalty.
Larne again came back when Garrett knocked over a penalty from 40 metres to go 6-3 ahead. The Clare replied with a flowing movement from half-way and Logan put Coburn in for a try on the right while Russell failed to convert. Before the interval Cusack had a strong break so it was 8-6 to Ballyclare at half-time.
Early in the second-half Wright made ground but Larne came back with a Garrett penalty to lead 9-8. The home team now began to dominate and their winger Thomas beat Cusack to score a try which was converted by man of the match Garrett for 16-8 lead. Then Garrett broke away and almost created another home score. He slotted over a penalty to increase the Larne advantage.
Ballyclare dominated the last 10 minutes with Logan twice held up near the home line. Ballyclare had been forced to make changes with Byers replacing Russell and David Crawford into the back row. They forced two penalties on the home line and eventually Byers raced over for a try which he converted to leave the final score 19-15. Larne fully deserved the win due to a strong second-half with Garrett always making ground.
Ballyclare - G. Byers, S. Cusack, J. Jackson, C. Gillen, G. Weatherup, I. Russell, C. Morrow, M. Armstrong, A. Wylie, R. Henderson, I. Heaney, G. McKinstry, C. Coburn, W. Logan, S. Wright. Res - D. Brown
Larne II 18
Ballyclare II 7
This was a strange scoreline as the Clare Seconds play a league above the Larne side. But on the day no more than three regular Seconds players took the field with several under 19 players included in a makeshift team.
Larne were the better side in the first half and scored two unconverted tries to lead 10-0. But overall the standard of play was disappointing.
Ballyclare did show more resolve in the second half and eventually Steven Gowdy got in for a try near the corner which was converted from a wide angle by Michael Taggart.
But the home side pressed in the final quarter and got a try out wide plus a penalty. This gave them a well deserved 18-7 win in a rather poor game.
So overall Larne took back the Hall Trophy well ahead on a total score of 37-22. This pleased their Ballyclare based coaches Davy Wilson and Garth Kennedy and the Glynn club were good value for the overall victory.

Subscribe to read full newspaper »

Send this page to a friend »