Rugby made a welcome return to The Cloughan at Ballyclare on Saturday 19th September with a pre-season hit out against Ballymoney RFC. The game was played over 4 x 20 minute quarters.

Report and photo credit Peter Adams.

Ballyclare started strongly and were on the scoreboard early when out-half Matthew McDowell cut through a space in the Ballymoney defence to score the first try. Robbie Reid added the conversion. This was quickly followed up with a try from Jack Gamble. Reid again added the conversion for the home side to have a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Full back Josh Cowan hit the line at pace just inside the Ballymoney 22 and rounded the defence to score in the right hand corner for a fourth try, with 30 minutes gone.

Jack Black touched down at the back of a driving maul from a 5 metre lineout soon after and Captain Dave Clarke found space in the Ballymoney defence as the ball was moved quickly through hands to add a sixth try before the half time whistle sounded. Reid converted Clarke’s try for his fourth conversion to leave the score 38-0 at HT.

Tries for wingers Owen Kirk and Mark Jackson, with Jackson converting his own try brought the score to 52-0, by the end of the 3rd quarter. Tries in the final quarter from McBride, Gamble, Kirk and Matt Dailly. The final score 80 – 0.

Ballymoney competed well throughout but Ballyclare proved too strong on the day.

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