Another strong performance for Larne 3's

Photo Credit: Bill Guiller

Unlike last week Larne managed to find some real, live backs to play this time round. Ballymoney arrived with a sizeable pack and the game promised to be a physical one. Sure enough, Ballymoney tried the brute force tactic, attacking with their forwards but the Larne backs and forwards alike were solid in defence and stopped them ever crossing the try line. Ballymoney instead settled for 3 points from a penalty to open the scoring.

With the wet conditions hampering both sides Larne became frustrated with themselves for gaining the upper hand, but captain D. Lough offered some calming words and Larne refocused. Prop A. Ferguson, taking inspiration from last week's forwards found himself receiving the ball out on the wing and proceeded to float butterfly-like past the Ballymoney winger to sting them for 5 points under the posts. P. Andrews added the conversion sending the ball high into one of the surrounding trees.

Larne scored again before the break, P. Andrews sending a grubber kick through the tightest of gaps for G. Knox to chase. As the ball crossed the whitewash Ballymoney in desperation took Knox out before he could reach it and the referee awarded the penalty try to Larne and a yellow card to Ballymoney.

Larne entered half time leading 14-3.

The halftime talk showed Larne where they needed to focus to improve their game and every single player took it onboard. The second half started more brightly for the home side as they tackled anything in blue that moved. Ballymoney couldn't seem to find any gap to exploit.

P. Andrews started the scoring, as an homage to Ferguson's try in the first half he dummied the Ballymoney back line and stepped inside to score under the posts and add the conversion. No doubt Ballymoney had Freddie Mercury singing Under Pressure in their ears as Larne pushed forward again, forcing them to try and clear their lines only for Larne to charge down the kick. P. Andrews duly recovered the ball and scored in the corner but failed to add the conversion.

Larne scored again from deep in their own half. A loose ball from Ballymoney was set upon by the back line who kicked it through- P. Andrews and S. McAllister combined to show off their footballing skills taking them all the way to the Ballymoney line for wing-prop A. Ferguson to eventually crash over in the corner again for his second try. Andrews added the conversion to take his personal tally to 18 points.

Having seen some great rugby skill and some decent football skill, two wingers tried to demonstrate some amateur boxing skill but the referee called it to a halt almost immediately and play resumed with both sides riled up.

The final score of the game fell to G. Rennix, who having watched Andrews and Ferguson slipping through the opposition line, decided to follow suit and improve his version by starting from the halfway line and running in the try under the posts.

Larne finished the game victorious, winning 38-3.

Line-up: D. Lough, S. Smyth, A. Ferguson, M. Gilbert, S. McDowell, L. Cameron, J. Cole, C. McKinty, S. Marshall, P. Andrews, S. McAllister, G. Knox, C. Moore, N. Kelso, G. Rennix, J. McNee, G. Wright, B. Meikle