Ravenhill dream over for Fourths

Ballymoney Thirds 20

Bann Fourths 15

BANN Fourths’ Forster Cup run was ended at the quarter-final stage with a 20-15 defeat away to Ballymoney Thirds on Saturday.

Having lost 39-0 at Kilraghts Road at the start of the season, Bann knew it was a strong Ballymoney team they would face and if the opening 15 minutes were anything to go by then it seemed that Bann would struggle as they were kept in their own 22 for much of this period.

However, typically determined defence from the locals kept the home side out and it was Bann who put the first try on the scoreboard after 16 minutes.

Breaking out from their own half after an initial break from out-half Stephen Jackson, Bann carried on the attack through some excellent interplay between backs and forwards. Eventually the ball was moved left from a ruck 15 metres from the Ballymoney line. When it came to Marc Eadie he showed great vision and skill for a second row to throw a miss-pass, leaving left winger John Haughey with a clear run to the corner to give Bann a 5-0 lead.

This boost for the locals showed in their play as the game was much more balanced from then on. Although the forwards were under pressure in the scrums against an experienced home front row, the line-out was superb, with Bryan Curran and James Mathers consistently winning clean ball from Andy Craig’s metronomic throw-ins.

Furthermore the backs were looking dangerous as they attacked with good pace and impressive handling.

However it was Ballymoney who scored next as their full-back finished a good move to touch down in the corner on 32 minutes. The conversion left the half-time score at 7-5.

This was to be extended 14 minutes into the second half when their No 8 drove over midway out on the left. Again, the Ballymoney left winger hit a fine conversion to bring the score to 14-5 to the home side.

This though seemed to spark Bann into a redoubling of their efforts and they managed to bring the deficit back to one score when Ally Lewis kicked a penalty midway through the half. This 14-8 score was turned into a 15-14 lead with 14 minutes left on the clock.

After a sustained period of Bann pressure they were twice awarded penalties close to the line when their efforts to drive over were illegally stopped. The pressure finally told though when Haughey received the ball five metres out and showing great strength and determination he broke through a couple of would-be tacklers to touch down in the corner.

Lewis hit a superb touchline conversion to give Bann a one-point advantage.

This lead though would last for little more than a couple of minutes. Ballymoney fought back with determination and their out-half, who had looked impressive all game, hit a superb drop-goal to take the score to 17-15. Receiving the ball some ten metres from the touch line midway between the 22 and 10 metre line he struck the ball magnificently and Bann could only watch in dismay as it sailed between the posts.

Four minutes later a penalty extended Ballymoney’s lead to five points. Bann refused to lie down though and despite being frustrated by some of the referee’s decisions they continued to seek the try they needed.

Indeed, the final move of the game could have brought the score when John Woods broke down the right. Moving the ball back inside 15 metres from the home line Bann came within one pass of the try. As it was, Ballymoney intercepted and cleared the ball into touch for the final whistle.

This was a disappointing result for the locals but a performance which allowed them to hold their heads high. In what was a fine advertisement for Forster Cup rugby Bann more than played their part in what was an entertaining, skilful and closely-fought game of rugby.

All of the team played their part in an excellent if ultimately unsuccessful performance. Special mention should go to tight-head prop Andy Wilson who showed a lot of promise in his first game for the team, Eadie and Mathers who combined well in the engine room and the back line in general who are improving as a unit with each passing game.

Whilst disappointed that their Ravenhill dream is over for another year the team can move forward with confidence as they approach their last few league matches, looking to finish off with another winning run, beginning at Queen’s in a couple of weeks.