Ballymoney U14 earn first league win of season

CAVAN U14 5

Saturday saw the U14s at home for the second week in a row and, buoyed by the demolition of Instonians, confidence was high.

This week their opponents were Cavan and with a full team the junior “tooners” uncharacteristically went at their southern opponents from the word go. Only a couple of minutes in and the well drilled ‘Money forwards drove the Cavan forwards back, quick ball from W. Wilson saw Tweed pop to centre Jordan Lyons who hammered his way through the tackles to score his first ever try for Ballymoney. Tweed converted.

‘Money continued to spoil Cavan ball at every opportunity and great shoulder running from the back row of Tweed, Boyd and McIntyre resulted in them punching big holes in the Cavan defence.

Again quick recycling allowed the backs to get good clean ball and only for a foot in touch would have saw the home side extend their lead. From the resulting lineout Cavan cleared their lines and enjoyed a bit of possession in the Ballymoney half but good discipline and some hard tackling kept the U14s tryline intact.

Again at the breakdown good counter rucking saw that man again Jordan Lyons break the Cavan defence and show not only has he strength but is pretty quick as well, outstripping the covering wingers to score under the posts. Ballymoney had the bit between the teeth and didn’t allow Cavan any time on the ball, out half Tweed marshalling the backs to pin point accuracy playing right on the back foot allowing no attack from Cavan to make the gain line.

Number 8 Jamie McIntyre was having a great game with some good runs and on one of these runs he went to ground,the pack rucked and a good kick through from Tweed saw winger Jack Brennan put in a great chase and he gathered the ball to touch down in the corner all for the ref to disallow the try for not applying pressure to the ball. Half Time 14-0.

A rare smiling coach gave the easiest half time talk all season “more of the same” and playing against the wind and up the hill Ballymoney did just that. They kept good possession and were in control but Cavan who hadn’t travelled nearly 3 and a half hours in a bus had other ideas the larger of the two packs started to maul the ball well and the pack did extremely well by travelling nearly half the pitch, with their flanker peeling off and crossing the whitewash.

Not to be outdone Ballymoney gave their own account of mauling rugby and after 4 or 5 phases and just metres from the line the big number 9 William Wilson showing signs of a young Ruan Pienaar picked up at the base and drove himself and a couple of defenders over the line to score a lovely try and also Williams first try for Ballymoney. Tweed converted.

Tempers were starting to fray and the Ballymoney discipline was excellent allowing their rugby to do the talking with the Toon back line attacking at every opportunity and had it not been a foot in touch Jordan Lyons would have had a hattrick of tries but on this occasion it wasn’t to be.

This was a fantastic result and the U14’s first league win of the season.

The U14s would like to thank Jonny Hannah for refereeing at such short notice and thanks to Cavan who never gave up and gave a good account of themselves playing some good rugby making it an enjoyable game to watch. Man of the match went to Jordan Lyons for his try scoring and all round performance.

This Saturday sees the league leaders Ballynahinch come to Kilraughts Road and a good auld fashioned Toon welcome awaits.