Braidmen hitting form ahead of All-Ireland League campaign

Ballymena followed up their midweek Ulster Senior League victory at Belfast Harlequins with a crushing 44-8 win over old rivals Dungannon at Eaton Park on Saturday.
Ballymena's Adrian Hamilton powers through the  Dungannon defence     during Saturday's Ulster League match at Eaton Park.
 Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena's Adrian Hamilton powers through the  Dungannon defence     during Saturday's Ulster League match at Eaton Park.
 Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena's Adrian Hamilton powers through the Dungannon defence during Saturday's Ulster League match at Eaton Park. Picture: Press Eye.

Ballymena got on the score board after one minute of play when they were awarded a penalty. Tim Small who has just arrived back from a season playing in Australia dispatched the ball between the uprights to open the scoring, 3-0.

Dungannon were given the change to equalise the score several minutes later from a penalty. Chris Cousins kicked the penalty, 3-3.

Ballymena were awarded with a scrum in the Dungannon 22. A strong push from the Ballymena pack put Dungannon on the back foot. The ball was finally picked up by the out-half and great hands from the backs put Jordan Foster in for the first try of the game. Tim Small added the conversion from the touch line, 10-3.

At 31 minutes Dungannon’s Steven Todd was yellow carded for repeat offences. Straight after the sin binning Ballymena’s hooker John Andrew found space to score after great work from the Ballymena backs. Tim small added the extras, 17-3.

With halftime approaching Ballymena’s backs went from deep and a great off-load from Glen Bailey sent winger Jordan Foster into space to race under the posts. Tim added the conversion to bring the half time score to 24-3.

The second half started the same as the first with an early penalty and the inform Tim Small made no mistake with the kick adding an extra 3 points to the score board, 27-3.

Ballymena found themselves deep inside the Dungannon 22 and Darrell Montgomery was able to dive over from a yard out for to seal Ballymena’s bonus point. The conversion was missed, 32-3. Shortly after the restart Dungannon worked their way into the braid men’s half and centre Cormac McCartney was on hand to finish a well worked move. The conversion was missed, 32-8. Ballymena rallied from the restart and were awarded a penalty. Tim small found touch 10 metre away from the Dungannon try line. Ballymena won the tine out and prop Adrian Kirkpatrick was drove over the line by his pack. Tim Small missed the touch line conversion, 37-8.

With time running out the Ballymena backs who had been phenomenal in attack put together a game finishing move when they put winger Jordan Foster through for his hat trick of tries. Tim Small added the conversion to end the game 44-8.

Ballymena: B Young, J Andrew, C Cundell, Ireland, M Rea, C Smith, W McKay, A Hamilton, Shananan, G Bailey, J Foster, C Patterson, J Smith, J McMullan, T Small. Subs: A Kirkpatrick, J Taggart, M Foster, Smyth, D Montgomery.

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