Wasson kicks holders out of McCambley Cup
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Ballyclare 1st XV were unable to overcome a strong Omagh team on a rain-drenched pitch as they fell to a 30-7 defeat. SE0510
Ballyclare Fourths - 6, Ballymena Fifths - 0: BALLYCLARE RFC had three club sides involved in cup rugby on Saturday but only the Veteran Fourth XV managed a win and an historic one as they got the better of Ballymena 5th XV for the first time in the past few seasons at a wet Cloughan in the third round of the McCambley Cup and the fact that the Eaton Park side are the holders could give the Clare men a real chance of the Ravenhill final as they progress through to the quarter finals.
However the club 1st XV suffered their first loss since November 5, away to a good Omagh team who will have to be faced again in a key league game-on Saturday this Towns Cup tie was lost 30-7 with the Tyrone men controlling the second half on a pitch which was scarcely playable.
The Clare Thirds were also at Omagh in the Crawford Cup played on an even worse surface and went down after an heroic performance to Omagh 2nd Xv who play two Sections higher than Tony Turner's team. Ballyclare had to call off the Under 19 XV game versus Larne as coach Byers only had eight fit players available.
The Fourth's game against Ballymena Fifths was an eagerly awaited McCambley Cup third round game as the Fourths have assembled a strong and extremely experienced outfit this season to have a real tilt at the trophy and so far they are unbeaten in their league and cup runs.
Ballymena arrived as holders and last year recorded three wins over the Clare Veterans but on the day the White Hares refused to take a backward step at times against powerful tactics which led to a good number of penalties to the home team.
An early penalty to the Fourths for offside allowed the home backs to surge into the opposition 22 only to have fly half McDonald tackled hard leading to temporary concussion and he had to be replaced by Lyle Andrew with Reynolds moving to out half.
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