On Saturday JKC/Causeway Geotech Ltd sponsored Ballymoney 1st XV welcomed visitors Lurgan to Kilraughts Road with the home side looking to bounce back from two successive league defeats in only the second home league game of the season.

Before kick off both sides observed a minutes silence following the passing of Club Member Ian McConaghie earlier in the week.
Prop Stephen McCleery returned to the front row with Adam Mitchell also returning in the second row.

Ballymoney started strongly however Lurgan opened the scoring with a try after five minutes, following a great break by their right winger the resulting lineout led to a catch and drive lineout and scored in the corner.

Unfortunately Ballymoney lost Martin Irwin early on with a foot injury and was replaced by Joel McCluggage. In horrendous conditions, both sides struggled however on 35, a Ballymoney penalty by Paddy Carson narrowed the scoreline.

Lurgan stretched further ahead 15 minutes into the second half before Sam Brown scored his first Ballymoney try and with the Carson conversion took the score to 12-10 to the visitors. The Toon missed the opportunity to take the lead when a Carson penalty went narrowly wide of the post. Lurgan kicked a penalty with five minutes remaining to stretch the lead to 15-10 to give them the victory.

“Disappointing result today,” said Davy Brown after the game, “credit to Lurgan on the victory but it was a game that was there for the taking. Errors at critical times didn’t help us but we’ll regroup and be back next Saturday when we face Armagh in the last group game of the Junior Cup. Thanks to all the support today on such a wet miserable day, it is much appreciated.”