Braidmen suffer crushing defeat in relegation battle

Ballymena's Ian Vance clears his lines during Saturday's heavy All-Ireland League defeat at Dungannon. Picture: Press Eye.

Ballymena started the brighter of the two sides and forced Dungannon onto the back foot. The Braidmen put together several attacking phases but the Dungannon defence stood strong.

When Dungannon finally got their hands on the ball they launched their own attack. This saw them going deep into the Ballymena half. On 14 minutes Ballymena gave away a penalty for holding on in the tackle. Dungannon and Ulster’s Peter Nelson dispatched the ball between the posts.

After 21 minutes Dungannon were on the Ballymena 5 metre line and finally forced their way over the line for the opening try. Peter Nelson added the extras to make the score 10-0.

Ballymena rallied at the restart and were again putting Dungannon under some pressure but unfortunately at 25 minutes Ballymena’s Stephen Mulholland was yellow carded for repeated offences.

A man down, Ballymena showed great determination and were knocking Dungannon back in every tackle but on 29 minutes Ballymena gave away a penalty for not rolling away. Peter Nelson’s kick took the score to 13-0.

A great chase at the restart from Ballymena saw them turnover the ball. After a few phases Ballymena were within touching distance of the Dungannon try line but a great tackle from the covering full back denied Ballymena their try.

With minutes left in the first half Dungannon found themselves on the attack and a well worked move saw them open up the Ballymena defence to score. Peter Nelson added the conversion to make the half time score 20-0.

Dungannon started the second half the way they ended the first half by scoring from the kick off. Peter Nelson added the conversion, 27-0.

On 55 minutes loose play from Ballymena gave Dungannon the ball and again they forced their way into the visitors half. After a series of drives from the Dungannon pack space finally opened up for flanker Ali Birch to score. Peter Nelson slotted the conversion over to take the score to 34-0.

From the restart Ballymena found themselves on the back foot again. They then quickly found themselves going further behind with another quick try. This time Nelson missed the conversion, 39-0.

Over the next 10 minutes it was all Ballymena who were working well and if it wasn’t for some last ditch tackling they could have found themselves on the score sheet on more than one occasion.

On 65 minutes Dungannon saw another well worked move finished off by Ulster flanker Ali Birch. Peter Nelson again added the extras, 46-0.

From the restart Dungannon went in search for another score and after a series of missed tackles Dungannon crossed the line for the games final score. Peter Nelson missed the conversion as the match finished 51-0.

With four games remaining in the AIL, Ballymena can still save themselves but they face a huge test this week when they entertain UCD at Eaton Park.

Ballymena: A Warwick, A Ferguson, M Irving, I Caldwell, D Whann, M Rea, W McKay, S Mulholland, I Vance, M Irwin, J Foster, D Montgomery, R Andrew, N Sterling, J.Nichol, Subs: A Kirkpatrick, C Cundell, C Smith, A Hamilton, G Bailie.