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Ballyclare crash out of Town’s Cup

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Mark Fox, Ballyclare trys to get away JP0433

THE BALLYCLARE senior side was knocked out of the Towns cup, but this reverse was offset by a McCambley Cup win by the 4th XV. As forecast, Colly Morrow's men proved to be no match for holders, City of Derry, in the Towns Cup, but having three players injured -one of them seriously - contributed to their 68-7 thrashing.
James Jackson retired with a shoulder injury in the 10th minute, and two minutes later the second substitute was called upon when David Crawford had to be taken to hospital with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. He was detained in Altnagelvin Hospital overnight, and is likely to be hospitalised for several days. With both substitutes used, Ballyclare were forced to play the final half hour with only fourteen men, when Nick Beattie hobbled off with a knee injury. Commenting on the game skipper Colin Morrow said: "Former AIL side, City of Derry, paid us the honour of fielding their full team, and their class showed all over the park. I couldn't find fault with our players; they kept going even when we were a man short, but Derry had too much power and class for us." For the record left winger Gary Weatherup got Ballyclare's solitary touchdown that was goaled by full back Gareth Byers.
Ballyclare: Byers; Weatherup, Jackson, D Crawford, McKnight; McDonald, Morrow (C); Henderson, Smith, Coburn, Heaney, Boyd, McKinstry, Moore, Logan. Subs: Beattie for Crawford, Taggart for Jackson.
4th's defeat local rivals
Ian Luke's 4th XV fared better at Woodlawn where they defeated Carrick IV 22-3 in the McCambley Cup.
Carrick were first on to the scorecard with a penalty, but Ballyclare were soon ahead when Davy Wallace followed-up on his kick to the corner, won possession and dropped over for a try that John Wasson was unable to convert. Full back Wasson got his name on the card when he joined the backs to score under the posts, making his conversion a formality to give the visitors a 12-3 advantage at the break.
Wasson was seldom out of the action in the second session, during which he increased his tally by ten points. First he slotted over a penalty, then crossed for a score that he also goaled, while Carrick failed to add to their early penalty.
Despite Wasson's significant contribution, the Man of the Match award was shared by wing forward Harry Gaston and prop Alan Carson.
This weekend's fixtures: 1st XV v Belfast High School FP, away; 2nd XV v Clogher Valley II, away; 4th XV v Antrim, home.

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