Ballymoney (11) v Donaghadee (5), Kukri Qualifying League 1
Saturday 8th February

Donaghadee travelled to Kilraughts Road to face Ballymoney for their first piece of league action in four weeks. The heavy rain has been causing havoc throughout the province recently, and indeed only two league fixtures were fulfilled yesterday at Ballymoney and Clogher Valley. Despite the aforementioned rain and uninspiring forecast, Donaghadee were pleasantly surprised to find the playing surface at Ballymoney in relatively decent condition, while the severe gales and heavy rain never appeared in earnest.

Donaghadee started the game with the breeze at their backs and with a ferocious intensity. Paul Blewitt’s cultured, and at times booming, left boot helped the Dee secure all important territory which soon resulted in a kickable penalty. Nigel Barker’s effort cannoned off the upright to let the home side off the hook. The Dee pack were fronting up and competing well with their slightly heavier, more experienced counterparts from Ballymoney, and were edging the game in terms of possession and territory. The set piece was functioning well, with Gareth Gordon making good use of the shortened lineout, and the scrum anchored on both sides by the monumental Good and Barnes. It was Barnes in fact who produced the first scoring act of the game mid way through the half. The athletic prop raced off the line in to charge down the opposition out-half’s clearance kick, and kept his composure well to dot the ball down once it had ricocheted off his rather significant frame. The try was unconverted, Ballymoney 0 - Dee 5. The game ebbed and flowed, with some of Ballymoney’s more effective ball carriers coming in to the game more and more. Towards the end of the half Ballymoney won a penalty which was to leave the score at half-time Ballymoney 3 - Dee 5.

Several substitutions were made at half-time, with two players making their first appearances for the 1st XV. Ryan Campbell replaced Mark Cooper, who left the field with a nasty looking ankle injury, and Matthew Kane came on for Phil Collins in the back row. From the kick off, a thunderous run from Chris Hamilton resulted in the Ballymoney number 8 leaving the field, and it was clear for all to see the Dee were up for the battle of playing in to the elements and protecting their lead. Despite this, a silly indiscretion at breakdown offered up an easily kickable penalty, which the Ballymoney out-half slotted comfortably. Ballymoney 6 - Dee 5.

Good, Adams and youngster Kane were to the fore as the Dee battled manfully to edge their way into the opposition half. The continuity was excellent, however it seemed on occasion that once Dee had gotten into a good attacking position, either the ball was spilled or one of the wily Ballymoney back row managed to sneak in at the breakdown and force a turnover. There were glimpses of promise from the likes of Garnham and Irvine, while man mountain Ali Barnes had several barnstorming runs. But in truth, the Dee never really threatened one of the stingiest defences in the league. They did however force another kickable penalty, but Barker’s effort, into a strong wind, drifted wide.

With legs tiring Ballymoney kicked into the Dee 22, and showed great patience and organisation to rumble their way over out wide. The missed conversion left the score Ballymoney 11 - Dee 5. Influential skipper Ali Lockhart rallied his troops as they prepared for a final assault on the Ballymoney line, but this was to be in vain as the game ended 11 - 5.
On the day it felt like the team deserved more than the losing bonus point, but both coaches Hennessey and McKenzie were extremely pleased with the effort and commitment of the players. Dee welcome table toppers and All Ireland Cup finalists Clogher Valley to Donaldson Park next Saturday, before they turn their attention to the quarter final of the Town’s Cup.

..... and the opposition's version....

With the recent rain taking out most of the rugby in the country, Ballymoney's was one of only a handful of games to go ahead at the weekend, thanks to the hard work from the ground staff.

With Rhys and Kyle McAuley both available, James Campbell moved back into the 10 jersey, and Nigel Nevin returned to fullback. Up front Matthew Blair got a start, and the second row pairing of Clyde and Mulholland continued where they left off.

In such inclement conditions, this was never going to be a classic. And so it proved, with neither side able to sustain possession and a series of scrums dominating the opening exchanges.

Donaghadee were having the better of the first half though, with Jonny Hanna defying the odds to make a couple of try saving tackles. But Dee were first on the board with a try in the corner after a rare sustained period of pressure.

That seemed to wake Ballymoney up a little, and some shoots of recovery became evident - in particular with Clyde making a break up the middle but unable to find enough support to finish off.

Kicking was tough, with both sides missing a couple of chances before half time. But in the second half James Campbell found his range and converted two chances for a narrow lead, 6-5 after 50 minutes. Both sides were edgy at this point; a wave of relief went round the ground as Dee missed a kickable penalty.

For the next 10 minutes, Ballymoney were able to sustain some pressure. Eventually, Neal Mulholland added to his try tally with a short range effort after a series of picks near the line. 11-5 Ballymoney, and a bit of breathing room.

With Donaghadee stepping the pressure back up, Ballymoney's defense started to come to the fore. David Campbell and Garvin Bellingham were disrupting ball to great effect, and the centres McAuley and Cleland were absorbing any attempt to go wide.

With Dee attacking in the final minutes, both fly-halves were sent to the bin for a handbag debate. But that was to prove the last significant play as the Toon held on to win 11-5. David Campbell was awarded man of the match for his defensive efforts.