Welcome to Ballymena RFC @ Eaton Park – Est 1887

25/09/21

Ballymena 2XV 20 – 21 Randalstown 1XV

A very unfortunate refereeing error ended up costing Ballymena 2nd XV on Saturday versus a very physical Randalstown 1st XV.

Captain Jack Lewis made the decision to kick for goal in the last play of the game believing that Ballymena were, according to the referee, trailing by 1 point. Finlay Walker duly stepped up and slotted the kick giving Ballymena what was believed to be a 2-point victory. The final whistle was blown. A short time later the Ballymena team were informed that they were in actual fact losers to the score line 21-20.

Randalstown definitely deserved their 18-7 half time lead. Ballymena’s Peter Munce and Paddy James were sin binned for 2 separate incidents which resulted in Ballymena conceding a fairly hasty 8 points. A penalty under the posts followed by an unconverted mauled score in the corner. Randalstown were also awarded a penalty try for dominance at scrum time towards the end of the half.

Ballymena however responded with a well worked score by Peter Munce, which was converted by Finlay Walker.

Ballymena certainly dominated territory and possession in the second half. This revolved around a more solid set piece from both scrum and line out. Good build up play from player/coach Matthew Dick led to an excellent finish from Tom Wharry after his own clever chip through. Finlay Walker converted making the score 18-14. Both teams exchanged penalties, and Walker added to his team’s tally in the last play of the game. Perhaps the captain’s decision may have been different if on pitch information had have been accurate.

This was by no means a polished performance by this young Ballymena team, but the intensity, commitment and heart were very obvious against a much bigger Randalstown team. We will move onto the next challenge…

Best wishes to Randalstown for the remainder of the season.

1 Forsythe 2. Stevenson 3. Logan 4 Waulahan 5. Bovill 6. Mort 7. Mattison 8. Dick 9 Vance 10. Walker 11. Munce 12. James 13 Lewis (c) 14. Wharry 15. Henry

16. Agnew 17. Fullerton

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