On Saturday the Ballymoney 2nd XV faced Armagh 3s in a rearranged league fixture, the last of the year. The winner of this match would secure 4th place in the league. And with these two sides contesting the Crawford Cup final at the Kingspan on Easter Saturday, both sides were keen to put in a good performance and players are still competing keenly for places that day.

Kicking off early due to the other matches at Kilraughts Road, it was Armagh who got off to the faster start. Ballymoney struggled to clear their own half into the wind, but the defence largely held out for the first 10 minutes.

But then the visitors struck first. After some tight carries by their energetic pack, and a few breakdown penalties, eventually the forwards burrowed over to open the scoring.

This seemed to invigorate the Toon side, and inspired by some great hits and steals from Dave McKeeman, Ballymoney piled on the pressure through the middle, leaving a mismatch on the left hand side of the ruck for Adam Donnelly to bulldoze over. Young converted to leave the score 7-7.

Ballymoney were starting to find some advantages at this stage - Stevenson and McKeeman stealing several Armagh lineouts, Blair and Donnelly were getting the upper hand in the scrum, and Jonny McMullan was starting to find a gap between the centres to run through from Linton's feed.

And shortly before half time Ballymoney again managed to put the attack together - this time ignited by a perfectly weighted clearance kick from captain Andrew Millar, which surprised everyone and pinned Armagh deep in their half. From the drop out, McCluggage carried well, then McMullan found space to squeeze up the blind side. From a quick ruck Andrew Stevenson was on hand to pick and charge over.

Half time came with the home side just in front, 12-7. Both sides were playing a good brand of rugby in the sun, but their rugged defence and the growing influence of a cold crosswind were keeping a check on the scoring.

The second half began with subs Anderson, Lowry, and Brown all thrown into action. Anderson continued where Matthew Blair had left off in the scrum, winning the advantage early on and carrying well in attack.

On 50 minutes it looked like Robbie McNeill would scurry away on a counter attack, but he was caught and tackled well ahead of his support. Armagh would win the turnover, clear downfield, and score a fine team try through carries and offloads up the middle. The conversion was good for a 14-12 lead.

Suitably galvanised, Ballymoney went on the attack again. After a wide move from the backs, hooker Heggarty supported well around the fringes and blasted his way into the 22. A few carries later and Tyler McNeill released McCluggage up the wing, only to be stopped by a high cover tackle. But from the penalty, Donnelly would again bash his way over the line. McMullan converted for a 19-14 lead, and a tense last 15 minutes.

The Toon men kept the pressure on, turning the screw in the scrum and managing the game in the Armagh half. Eventually it was captain Millar who squeezed over from short range after a long spell of attack from the home pack.

But Armagh quickly regrouped, and were soon on the attack themselves. Just when a set play 30m out looked to have fizzled out, the ball broke free. From the ensuing chaos some good hands through the backs found Ballymoney had over-commited in the chase, and the winger was sent clear to score under the posts. At 24-21 the match was really in the balance.

Fortunately the Toon side were able to hang on - a further penalty for McMullan and some steady game management eventually winding down the clock at 27-21 for the home side.

This was a cracking match, with momentum swinging back and forth between two well matched sides - and no small amount of skill and physicality on display. With both sides taking a couple of knocks, and having players to return to the squad, we can anticipate an intense cup final on Easter Saturday. All support is very welcome - Saturday 19th April, 5pm, Kingspan - and keep an eye on the club sites for details of a supporters' bus!