The 1st XV made a great start to their Schools’ Cup campaign with a well deserved 22-3 victory over Limavady Grammar School at Limavady. Mr. Andrews’s and Mr. Murray’s men were made to work for their win and absorbed a lengthy period of pressure in the second half with the lead at only 8-3, before tries from Peter Wallace and Charles Simpson eased fears.
The game started with the 1st XV on the front foot from the kick off. Early pressure lead to a 10th minute penalty neatly slotted over by Callum Patterson from in front of the posts. Chances to stretch the lead then went a begging with passes not going to hand or because of over elaborate handling when driving for the line might have been more cost effective.
After 20 minutes a sweeping move starting infield on the right, saw this time error free handling, and the play found its way out to Matthew McBride on the left. He still had work to do, but made his ground well before diving in the corner to score an impressive try. The resulting conversion was narrowly missed.
Ballymena then struggled to impose themselves against a determined and well organised Limavady side and conceded numerous penalties and knock-ons in an error stryune passage of play. The opposition showed great fight and always looked to attack but were unable to break through determined Academy defence. Having turned down several chances to kick at goal, opting for attacking line-outs, Limavady finally took the points just before half time, leaving the score 8-3.
Neither team was able to dominate at the start of the second half which was again punctuated with handling errors and ineffective kicking. As the half wore on the home team came more and more into the game and while the score remained at 8-3 there was a worry that one error could prove costly. Good pressure of our own went unrewarded as we kicked the ball dead from a penalty when looking for an attacking line-out.
Play was soon back on the home 22 as the pack drove from a line-out with Peter Wallace and John Andrew joining the ensuing maul at speed. As the line was crossed the ball was smuggled back to Wallace who touched down to make it a more comfortable 13-3, with Patterson adding a good conversion.
Limavady remained in the game and never let their heads go down, spending the last 10 minutes camped in Ballymena’s 22. The visitors conceded repeated penalties as the referee turned to his yellow card for a late challenge.
As Limavady continued to press they moved the ball cross field, only too have Charlie Simpson intercept and run unopposed the length of the pitch to seal a well deserved, if at times stuttering, victory. Caleb Morrison added the conversion on the final whistle leaving the final score 22-3.
So the 1st XV move on to a quarter-final home encounter with Friends School Lisburn in a fortnights time, satisfied to have stepped over this tricky hurdle and can move on with the momentum a cup run can bring.
After the game Ballymena were presented with an Ireland Rugby shirt signed by Tommy Bowe by match sponsors Donnelly and Taggart.
In the day’s other cup game the Medallion A XV lost their 3rd Round Northern Bank Medallion Shield replay, 12-6 away to Grosvenor Grammar School.
Report and photographs thanks to Mr. Lytle. Additional photographs thanks to John McIlwaine.
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