Ballymena fall to heavy home defeat against Ulster rivals
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Out half John Semple kicked 8 points on Saturday.
From heading the table just two games ago, Ballymena have slipped to fifth spot following defeats against two of their Ulster rivals Belfast Harlequins and last Saturday at home to Dungannon.
However such is the evenness of Division 1B they are just 4 points behind new leaders Ballynahinch so there will be little panic at Eaton Park about that although there may be concerns about the nature of those two defeats.
At Harlequins they never looked like breaching the home side's defence while their lack of discipline offered too many kicking opportunities in the second half of that game.
Reports have suggested that against Dungannon Ballymena were again guilty of conceding too many penalties while they did not offer much resistance to their visitors who took full advantage to claim a deserved try-scoring bonus point victory that moved them above Ballymena in the table into second place.
Penalties
Two Michael Lawton penalties were replied to by a John Semple kick that made the early score 3-6. Dungannon though scored the game's first try when Ulster "A" full back/wing Conor Gaston crossed the line that Lawton converted and then the same player grabbed his third penalty and Semple his second to move Dungannon 6-16 ahead at the break.
Lawton added another two penalties before Ulster "A" flanker Alistair Birch got his fellow forwards some rewards for their pressure with his side's second try that Lawton also converted to extend Dungannon's lead to 6-29.
Another Ulster "A" player in wing Chris Cochrane touched down for the third Dungannon try before centre Stuart McCloskey completed the County Tyrone's side scoring with the bonus point try that moved them 6-39 ahead.
Ballymena did though get the game's final points when wing Roger McBurney rounded off a fine back move to score near the posts and when Semple added the extra points it made the final score 13-39.
BALLYMENA. Ricky Andrew, Roger McBurney, Alistair Frazer, Luke Marshall, Richard Aingworth, John Semple, Blane McIlroy, Conor Carey, John Burns, Simon Shawe, Joel Andrew, Josh Christie, Andy Kerr, Paul Pritchard (Capt), Ross Hackney. Replacements: Andrew Warwick, James Carson, Stephen Mulholland, Paul Campbell, Conor Smith
Friday's Result. Buccaneers 12-6 Galwegians. Saturday's Results. Bruff 22-18 UCC, UL Bohemians 16-20 Ballynahinch, Ballymena 13-39 Dungannon, UCD 22-39 Belfast Harlequins
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