Ballymoney 13-33 Skins

Skins made the long trip to Ballymoney on Saturday to secure a hard-fought bonus-point win against fifth-placed Ballymoney.

Skins played into a reasonably strong breeze in the first half. The opening quarter saw both sides threaten to score and both defending well.

Michael Rooney in particular made a number of crucial tackles for Skins. The stalemate was broken when Ballymoney took advantage of a loose ball on half-way to run through and score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Skins struck back immediately. Henry Keys won possession at the restart. Keenan and then Andy Dane took it on before Ballymoney conceded a penalty at an ensuing ruck.

Eddie Keys took it quickly to Neill Rutledge, who fed Trotter on the wing. Cullinan attacked open from the ruck before it went back to Andy Dane and Rooney on the blindside, near the left touchline, just inside the Ballymoney 22.

The ball looked to be heading for Harte on the right wing before Eddie Keys spotted a gap and cut through to score under the posts. He added the conversion, to make it 7-5 to Skins.

The pattern of both sides having attacking opportunities and defending well continued. Despite being repelled a number of times, the home side doubled their score and regained the lead with an unconverted try from close in.

At the restart, Skins very nearly repeated the feat of scoring straightaway but the ball was knocked on with the line beckoning.  

As the half came to a close, Ballymoney were on Skins’ line and ought to have scored, when they tried to whip the ball wide but it was intercepted by Eddie Keys with a save that Roy Carroll would have been proud of. That was as good as a score for Skins but they still trailed 7-10.

That changed immediately at the start of the second period. Ballymoney fielded the kick-off and cleared to touch near their 10m line. From the lineout on their left, Skins played through a number of phases before Mattie Dane fed Henry Keys at a ruck on near the corner on the right-hand side. The ball was moved on to Rooney to sprint over. The try was converted from the right touchline to make it 14-10 to Skins.

Ballymoney attempted to maul and carry at the restart but were forced to knock on near their 10m line. From a scrum penalty, Skins mauled a lineout, from which they moved it to the blindside, with Angus Keys to Neill Rutledge, to Jack Rutledge and back inside to Keys, who sprinted in and behind the posts. Eddie Keys converted.

Ballymoney picked up a penalty to bring it to 21-13 in Skins’ favour.

The lead was extended when a towering up-and-under by Keys was allowed to bounce.

Sam Balfour picked it up around halfway and made ground. Neill Rutledge, who had an excellent game in the loose, winning a number of turnovers, was there to clear out the ruck.

Angus Keys drew the defender, allowing Keenan and then Keys again, to carry the movement on. Eddie Keys then made a break.

The ball went left with Harry Dane and Oisin Timoney before coming back right, with a wide pass to Henry Keys, who powered over. Eddie converted. 28-13.

Skins nearly had another, when a cross-field kick by Keys was very nearly collected in the right corner by Sam Balfour.  

Ballymoney came right back and were attacking the Skins 22 when a loose ball at their ruck was scooped up by Angus Keys and off-loaded ‘out the back’ to Steve Balfour.

He attacked the defence, sensing some space and an extra man. Ferguson took it on before releasing the ball inside to Andy Dane.

The Skins’ loose-head prop made a great break into the Ballymoney half before being tackled. From the ruck, Eddie Keys sent a diagonal kick cross-field for James Trotter to catch at full pace and run in from the 10m line. The try was unconverted.

Skins had good opportunities to score again in the final minutes and it was testament to the Ballymoney defence that they weren’t taken, leaving the final score at 33-13.

Skins’ 2nds and 3rds won their home matches against Ballymena 3s and Dungannon 3s respectively, to put both in contention for their leagues.

Next Saturday Skins’ 1st XV host Cooke again, this time in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup.

Kick-off at 2.30pm.