2nd XV Beat Ballymena

Monday, 01 March 2010 09:55

ACADEMY 2NDS  V  BALLYMENA 4THS

Academy dominated the first half, centre G.Davis opening the scoring with a try in the left hand corner (5-0,  7 mins), and outhalf P.Moffett adding a second after a good drive up the middle by the forwards (10-0,  19 mins).

Fullback, J.Atcheson, started from 25m out, and danced through the Ballymena defence before touching down for Academy’s third try (15-0, 23-mins) with right wing, A.Waterson added a fourth in the right hand corner minutes later (20-0,  32 mins).

Wingforward, R.Press fielded the restart kick, and made a 40m run up-field, his backrow partner B.Cahill was in support, but was stopped just short of the line. From the ruck, a dummy pass from scrumhalf, G.Adair, created just a big enough gap for him to dive over (25-0, 35-mins).

Academy started the second half very casually with a number of unforced errors, which  Ballymena punished with a try in the corner 25-5 (55mins). This only served to concentrate the minds of the Academy players. Stealing the ball at a Ballymena 5m lineout, prop C.Nash tidied the loose ball and drove forward to set up the ruck. The ball was spun to the backline, with centre G.Davis driving over the line for his second (32-5,  60 mins).

The game ended (10-mins early) with a try for No.8, B.Cahill, just reward for supporting yet another 40m break by Ricky Press (39-5,  fulltime).    

The Observer.