Under 14 v Belfast Royal Academy

Final Score 0 - 43

Ballyclare started poorly with a dropped ball from the kick off. Things went from bad to worse when BRA moved the ball though the backs from the scrum and the winger went on to score in the corner for the first score of the game. The conversion was not made. More poor play resulted in BRA constantly punishing us through the backs, although the number eight, made some great breaks through our defensive ranks.

BRA managed to break the line, the result was always five points, if not more. Missed tackles were the main problem of the day as too many players were trying to hug their opposite number to the ground rather than take them low. Our backs also failed to keep ball in hand, often at crucial stages of the game. However they were not helped by the poor rucking of the forwards. Andrew Higginson nearly went over from 5 metres out but was disappointingly held up.

All in all BRA deserved the victory that they got as we failed to reach our usually high standard of play on that day.

Match report by Scott Barr.