Match Report: Ballyclare High School 20-28 Bangor Grammar School
Ballyclare High School vs Bangor Grammar School
Bangor Grammar School returned to winning ways last Saturday, as they travelled to Ballyclare for a return fixture at Ballyclare High School.
One month ago, both teams faced each other in wet and windy conditions at Gransha Road. On that occasion, Bangor fended off late Ballyclare pressure to hang on for the win. Would home advantage be enough to sway the tide for Ballyclare this time around?
Ballyclare started well and scored first, with full-back Jack Gault touching down in the corner, just inside the two-minute mark. The conversion attempt from a wide angle was unsuccessful.
It didn’t take Bangor Grammar long to respond, and centre Conor Lusty soon levelled the score. Rhys Larmour’s conversion gave Bangor a two-point lead.
Bangor’s back line, again without Aaron Sexton, had ample space to run as they utilised the full width of the pitch. They were soon on the attack again. A perfectly timed pass from Harry McCracken opened space for Harry Angus to run, before grounding the ball behind the posts. Larmour was on target again with the conversion.
Ballyclare struggled to get into the game in the first half and conceded again before the break. Patrick Dobie’s grounding from close range, and Larmour’s conversion, brought the half time score to 21-05 in Bangor’s favour.
Bangor Grammar picked up where they left off after the break, and were unlucky not to score again, as an almost certain Michael McCreary try was ruled out for a knock forward in the build-up.
Minutes later Bangor did get their fourth, as Conor Lusty launched an audacious solo break from half way, running past four Ballyclare players then touching down under the posts for his tenth try of the season. Rhys Larmour kept his 100% success rate intact with the subsequent kick.
At this point, the match had already slipped away from Ballyclare, but they refused to give up and fought back showing brilliant character with three tries by James Logan, Robert Reid and Matthew McCullough (all unconverted).
In the end it was too little, too late for Ballyclare High School. Bangor Grammar players celebrated their fourth victory of the season so far.
Final Score: Ballyclare High School 20-28 Bangor Grammar School.
Teamsheet: 1. Grant, 2. Mahood, 3. McCrossan, 4. Bull, 5. Pyper, 6. Westwood, 7. Dobie, 8. Wells, 9. Hamilton, 10. Larmour, 11. Angus, 12. Lusty, 13. Stewart, 14. McCreary, 15. McCracken.
Substitutes: 21. Wood, 23. Hatty
BCL Tries: Jack Gault, James Logan, Robert Reid, Matthew McCullough
BGS Tries: Conor Lusty (x2), Harry Angus, Patrick Dobie
BGS Conv: Rhys Larmour (x4)
BGS Gryphiti Man of the Match: Conor Lusty
