Ballymena’s impressive away form gets win in Athlone
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Ballymena put two poor All Ireland League performances and defeats behind them when they achieved a very impressive and hard-fought 6-8 win at fellow promotion chasers Buccaneers in Athlone on Saturday evening.
After league losses to Ulster rivals Belfast Harlequins and Dungannon, Ballymena got back to winning ways at Division 1B side Old Belvedere in the semi final of the All Ireland Cup two weekends ago. Clearly the confidence gained in that win was taken into their trip to Buccaneers where over the years Ballymena have performed fairly well hence the later start.
Their victory combined with results elsewhere means that the battle at the top of the table is now even tighter with the top five clubs separated by just 2 points.
At Buccaneers the home side's kicker Jack Carty was off-target with a couple of first half penalties that allowed centre Luke Marshall to give Ballymena a 0-3 half time advantage.
In the second period Carty finally found his range and converted two penalties but it was a close-range try by Andy Kerr that gave Ballymena the narrow victory.
Saturday's Results. Belfast Harlequins 19-13 Ballynahinch, Dungannon 12-20 UL Bohemians, Galwegians 10-5 Bruff, UCC 11-13 UCD, Buccaneers 6-8 Ballymena
This weekend Ballymena are back at Eaton Park when Bruff are the visitors.
The Limerick side have picked up three wins to date but crucially they have all been at home - against Galwegians, Belfast Harlequins and bottom club UCC - and have lost all their away matches.
The match offers Ballymena a great opportunity to maintain their challenge at the top of the table but their home form has not been as impressive as that on the road. Losses to Buccaneers and Dungannon and a draw against UCD means that they have won only two games - Galwegians and Ballynahinch - at Eaton Park.
If they want to be regarded as promotion candidates - and who realistically would have predicted that before the season started - then Ballymena need to win and win well against what will be dogged visitors who lost 10-5 at Galwegians last weekend.
Friday: Ballynahinch v Dungannon.
Saturday: Fixtures. Ballymena v Bruff, Belfast Harlequins v Galwegians, UL Bohemians v UCC, UCD v Buccaneers
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