Shutout leaves Academy still searching for win

Both teams welcomed back one player apiece from Ulster Under 19 duty with Callum Patterson available to start at out-half for Ballymena, for whom Thomas Gaston, a fifth year pupil, made his First XV debut.

In a cagey first half, both teams seemed content to kick for territory and it was the RBAI side which came out better in these exchanges. They chased kicks with more intensity and organisation than the Academy team and, as a result, Ballymena found themselves under pressure in their own half.

This pressure saw RBAI awarded a penalty in the 15th minute but Matthew McGuigan was unsuccessful with his attempt.

Seven minutes later, after an incisive Inst midfield break, a Ballymena infringement at the ruck resulted in an RBAI penalty on the 22. McGuigan pushed his attempt wide of the upright.

Ballymena Academy came into the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half with some excellent support play and off-loading but a combination of good defence and poor decision-making meant that the half time whistle sounded with the score still 0-0.

Academy started the second half strongly with Hargy, Patton and Rea making strong surges through the Inst defensive line.

On the 40th minute, Ballymena appeared to be on the brink of breaking the deadlock when they created an overlap on the Inst 10 metre line. A flat attacking line tried to move the ball wide but the RBAI centre plucked the ball out of mid-air to run 60 metres unopposed for an interception try. McGuigan added the extras to leave the score 7-0.

Fifteen minutes later, after a period of sustained pressure, Inst moved the ball up the short side for their winger to score in the corner. McGuigan failed to add the extras.

In the final 15 minutes, Ballymena began to stretch the Inst defence but failed to capitalise on several forays into the Inst 22 as the game finished 12-0 to the home team.

The poor weather conditions dominated and resulted in a number of unforced handling errors. Ballymena had the better of the set-pieces and will be encouraged with the improvement to their line-out however RBAI were much more effective at the breakdown and regularly produced the quick ball that Ballymena could not.

While RBAI deserved their victory, both teams will feel that they are capable of producing a much better performance.

Ballymena Academy: Geddis, Gaston, Stirling, Gillespie, Foster, Patterson (c), Fleming, Halliday, Caithness, Hargy, McMurray, Rea, Hayes, McKerr, Patton. Replacement McGowan.