Sport

Ballymena too generous

Old Crescent must have thought it was Christmas all over again when they were allowed to turnover high-flyers Ballymena at Eaton…

Mon Feb 12 2001 - 00:00

Old Crescent must have thought it was Christmas all over again when they were allowed to turnover high-flyers Ballymena at Eaton Park. The Braidmen must have looked upon the struggling Limerick boys as a bit of a banker as they challenged for their second Top Four finish.

But how sadly they were mistaken. True, they gave Crescent a bagful of presents with numerous turnovers and handling errors that would have left schoolboys embarrassed, but the manner in which Crescent took their chances to gouge out only their second victory in the Division One campaign is a worthy statement.

Ballymena, who had to rejig their back-line with the absence of Shane Stewart, did start off in fine fashion after nine minutes with full back Stanley McDowell sending winger Jeff Park over in the corner for Neil Doak to convert.

That was the signal for a litany of errors, however, and by half-time Crescent had managed to carve out a lead. First it was prop Des Clohessy who took advantage of a forward charge to pick up at a ruck to dive over in the corner.

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Same again for Crescent's second try as outhalf Stephen Tuohy made the corner. Down 10-7 at the break, Ballymena were stunned into action, and tries by Springbok flanker Russell Nelson and hooker Paul Shield sandwiched a penalty by Crescent full back Stephen Treacy.

But Ballymena then lost the plot completely and Crescent's pack took over. Livewire scrumhalf Eoin Reddan dived over to nudge Crescent in front again. Treacy converted and added a couple of penalties through Ballymena misdemeanours. The home side did try to rescue to case, but it was too much too late and they could only rustle up another try, again by Nelson, which at least brought them an extra bonus point which in the end could be a very vital one.

BALLYMENA: S McDowell; J Topping (D MaCartney 58 mins), A Derwin, R Botha, J Park (S Young 70); N Doak, B Free (J Wells 58); N McKernan, P Shields, C Millar (W McAllister 65), M Blair (C Beuks 65), G Longwell, A Graham, R Nelson, D Topping.

OLD CRESCENT: B Treacy; J Cusack, W Munn, M Brodie, M Hogan; S Touhy (B Begley 75 mins), E Reddan; D Clohessy, L Brown (M Hayes 61), G Evans, P Ryan (D O'Malley 61), M Bird, G Schoeman, P Glamuzina, A Herlihy.

Referee: B Smith (Munster).