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Memorable win for Ballina in high-scoring quarter-final
Michael Gallagher2 Apr - 13:24
U-18.5 PLATE QUARTER-FINAL CREGGS 40-42 BALLINA
WOW! What a game we had in Creggs on Wednesday evening, when the hosts took on the boys from Ballina in the Plate quarter-final.
This was a Titanic battle, a magnificent spectacle and a breathtaking game of rugby on The Green as both sides served up a game rich in tries, attacking prowess and dogged defence to warm the crowd on a cool and breezy evening.
Ballina came out in determined mood from the off, epitomised by hooker John Langan’s textbook tackle in the first minute, which set the benchmark for the visitors. Thwarting this attack, Ballina launched a raid into the Creggs half that resulted in a penalty, which Tom Ruane duly slotted to give the Boys in Green a 3-0 lead. Playing against a tricky breeze, the visitors struck again after five minutes, when a strong carry by Dylan Rice, a feature that was replicated throughout the game, allowed Harry Loftus to go over from close range, as the visitors led 8-0.
Creggs used the breeze to pin back Ballina with a series of well-executed kicks, after this initial onslaught, and two offside penalties in quick succession brought them back to within two points. Buoyed by this turnaround, Creggs fashioned an excellent try from midfield, with a slick passing move unleashing their gazelle like winger to outstrip Ballina rearguard to go 11-8 in front.
An attack after 19 minutes yielded another well-worked score for the hosts, with a crossfield kick from the inside the Ballina 22, finding it’s target and Creggs dotted down to move 16-8 ahead.
Ballina had to respond, and respond they did, with Conor Murphy, as he has done all season, bursting through on the Creggs 10-meter line, and outstripping the defence to bring Ballina back to within three after 24 minutes.
After that tsunami of scores, the next ten minutes was mainly fought in midfield as both teams looked for ascendency again. Halftime arrived with the hosts leading 16-13.
Ballina used the break to reinvigorate themselves, and despite the breeze dropping off, they returned to the paddock and quickly took the lead, with Dylan Rice going over from a well-worked lineout move. A great break from the Creggs 22 by Jake Carr led to him increasing the lead with a try, and Jason O’Regan slotted the conversion, as Ballina put some daylight between the sides 25-16.
A replica lineout move on 46 minutes saw Rice again benefit from a perfect set piece to get his second try, with Tom Ruane adding the extras as Ballina took control 32-16. However, the hosts were not going quietly and hit back with an immediate unconverted try.
As time ticked onwards Tom Ruane slotted a difficult penalty from the hosts' 10 metre line, close to the sideline on 56 minutes to push the lead back out to 14 points.
Creggs responded as good teams do, with a well-worked try, built on strong carrying and using the width to breach the Ballina backline. The conversion was successfully added and Ballina's lead was cut to seven, 35-28 with 10 minutes left on the clock.
The Moysiders knew they needed to keep the scoreboard ticking and another swashbuckling run by Rice set up Harry Loftus to cross for his second try with Ruane again adding the extras as Ballina looked to put the result to bed.
Creggs refused to fall asleep and within the last four minutes took control of the game again, posting two well-worked tries to bring the margin down to two points, with the second conversion attempt being the last kick of the game. Unfortunately for the hosts the kick from close to the sideline drifted wide, and the final whistle was met with jubilation by the visiting squad and mentors, as Ballina progressed to the semi-final by a slender margin at the end of an epic game.
The whole Ballina squad left everything out on the pitch and everyone played their part in a great victory. However, it would be remiss not to acknowledge Dylan Rice’s huge contribution both in attack and defence, while his line breaks created several tries as well and he scored two himself. He was ably assisted by Harry Loftus who was a tour de force throughout and also posted two tries.
The squad and management can look forward to the semi-final and send a special word of thanks Creggs for a great game and their excellent hospitality afterwards.
This was a Titanic battle, a magnificent spectacle and a breathtaking game of rugby on The Green as both sides served up a game rich in tries, attacking prowess and dogged defence to warm the crowd on a cool and breezy evening.
Ballina came out in determined mood from the off, epitomised by hooker John Langan’s textbook tackle in the first minute, which set the benchmark for the visitors. Thwarting this attack, Ballina launched a raid into the Creggs half that resulted in a penalty, which Tom Ruane duly slotted to give the Boys in Green a 3-0 lead. Playing against a tricky breeze, the visitors struck again after five minutes, when a strong carry by Dylan Rice, a feature that was replicated throughout the game, allowed Harry Loftus to go over from close range, as the visitors led 8-0.
Creggs used the breeze to pin back Ballina with a series of well-executed kicks, after this initial onslaught, and two offside penalties in quick succession brought them back to within two points. Buoyed by this turnaround, Creggs fashioned an excellent try from midfield, with a slick passing move unleashing their gazelle like winger to outstrip Ballina rearguard to go 11-8 in front.
An attack after 19 minutes yielded another well-worked score for the hosts, with a crossfield kick from the inside the Ballina 22, finding it’s target and Creggs dotted down to move 16-8 ahead.
Ballina had to respond, and respond they did, with Conor Murphy, as he has done all season, bursting through on the Creggs 10-meter line, and outstripping the defence to bring Ballina back to within three after 24 minutes.
After that tsunami of scores, the next ten minutes was mainly fought in midfield as both teams looked for ascendency again. Halftime arrived with the hosts leading 16-13.
Ballina used the break to reinvigorate themselves, and despite the breeze dropping off, they returned to the paddock and quickly took the lead, with Dylan Rice going over from a well-worked lineout move. A great break from the Creggs 22 by Jake Carr led to him increasing the lead with a try, and Jason O’Regan slotted the conversion, as Ballina put some daylight between the sides 25-16.
A replica lineout move on 46 minutes saw Rice again benefit from a perfect set piece to get his second try, with Tom Ruane adding the extras as Ballina took control 32-16. However, the hosts were not going quietly and hit back with an immediate unconverted try.
As time ticked onwards Tom Ruane slotted a difficult penalty from the hosts' 10 metre line, close to the sideline on 56 minutes to push the lead back out to 14 points.
Creggs responded as good teams do, with a well-worked try, built on strong carrying and using the width to breach the Ballina backline. The conversion was successfully added and Ballina's lead was cut to seven, 35-28 with 10 minutes left on the clock.
The Moysiders knew they needed to keep the scoreboard ticking and another swashbuckling run by Rice set up Harry Loftus to cross for his second try with Ruane again adding the extras as Ballina looked to put the result to bed.
Creggs refused to fall asleep and within the last four minutes took control of the game again, posting two well-worked tries to bring the margin down to two points, with the second conversion attempt being the last kick of the game. Unfortunately for the hosts the kick from close to the sideline drifted wide, and the final whistle was met with jubilation by the visiting squad and mentors, as Ballina progressed to the semi-final by a slender margin at the end of an epic game.
The whole Ballina squad left everything out on the pitch and everyone played their part in a great victory. However, it would be remiss not to acknowledge Dylan Rice’s huge contribution both in attack and defence, while his line breaks created several tries as well and he scored two himself. He was ably assisted by Harry Loftus who was a tour de force throughout and also posted two tries.
The squad and management can look forward to the semi-final and send a special word of thanks Creggs for a great game and their excellent hospitality afterwards.
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