Medallion XV Rugby - Match Report

Match Report v Campbell College

Campbell College vs Ballyclare in the first home match for the medallion team. Ballyclare kicked off and from the resulting few rucks Campbell ran the length of the pitch and scored. The Campbell kicker missed a relatively easy conversion close to the posts. Ballyclare kicked off again and the chase was great and the tackling and rucking were good. Then Campbell made no progress through the forwards they gave it out to the back line the 1st centre got the ball from a switch and they moved it they scored from the resulting moves.

Ballyclare then stepped up there game from the next kick off they won a penalty on the 10 meter line fly half Simon Beattie gladly excepted the opportunity and slotted it through the posts. Campbell applied persistent pressure and constantly tried to break the Ballyclare line of defence and a great tackle from Patrick Hammil and Conor Shearer prevented the Campbell centres from scoring which was big confidence booster. But some poor tackling in the following phases the Campbell second row flopped over the line and this time they got the conversion. Making the Score 17-3.

When Campbell took it in the from the kickoff and tried to use their forwards a great bit of rucking from the Ballyclare forwards caused a turn over. Peter Mcmechan ran about 30 meters and was brought down close to the Campbell line. A penalty resulted and after second phase Conor Shearer picked it up off the back of the ruck and rang over the try line to score an excellent try.

The half time whistle blew soon after. Campbell kicked off and after a mistake, we were pinned down in our own half. Cambell were attacking and attacking us but we didn't give up. When the Campbell forwards were beginning to lose out and the scrums kept collapsing. Our defence held up until sadly one of the a Campbell centres broke off a ruck and scored a very fine try. Despite some excellent rugby from Ballyclare, we were a bit disappointed by the final score of 24 - 8. It was really good to test ourselves against such a great Campbell side. Both sides enjoyed a thrilling match.