Ballymena return to Ulster League with win

More or less from the kick off Ballymena were penalised and they found themselves three points behind.

Right from the re-start, however, Ballymena showed that if the forwards took them on up front and then released the backs it should be a stroll in the park. Unfortunately, Ballymena started to kick hard earned possession away and Rainey started to come into the match more often without too much effort.

Both sides showed a reluctance to keep the ball and as a spectacle it was very poor. There were occasional flashes of controlled rugby and these mainly came from Ballymena.

In the 13th minute they were on level terms after a Gareth Fisher penalty.

The match had dragged itself towards the the half hour with very little to get excited about. Then from a scrum near the home '22' Ballymena won possession. They kept the ball tight and made good ground into the '22' and Rainey just could not contain the momentum and hooker James Taggart was carried over the line to score a try and give Ballymena a lead of eight points to three and this was the half time score.

Early in the second half Ballymena went at the home side and after a good break by Darrell O'Kane the backs took over and after a good handling move, Steven Castle was on hand to complete the move. Gareth Fisher made the conversion and the lead looked better at 15 points to three.

The match continued with little good rugby but then in the 53rd minute Ballymena were comfortably in possession but somehow managed to lose the ball. Rainey moved the ball quickly through the backs and centre Dave Dodonski scored a try.

With about 10 minutes to go Ballymena were in the ascendancy and from a lineout in the Rainey half they got possession and tried a repeat of their first half drive and succeeded. This time Ryan Fisher and Sam McKinney broke off the maul and Fisher eventually got the try.

Ballymena were now coasting and towards the end were in search of a fourth try and a bonus point. They got a penalty and pushed Rainey back to their own line but the home side won the ball and cleared their lines.

They managed to keep the pressure on Ballymena were pushed back to their own line. Defending desperately they were adjudged to have committed an infringement and Rainey were awarded a penalty try which was converted to make the final score 20 points to 15 for Ballymena, but it was a game which did little to excite a sparse crowd.

Ballymena: R McBurney; P Budina, C Brigl, K Moore, S Castle;P Campbell, G Fisher; R Fisher (J Carson 60),J Taggart, S Shawe, D O'Kane (S Mulholland 74), B Young, A Kerr, R Hackney, S McKinney.