After a successful season of domestic rugby around Ulster, the Ballymoney lads were looking forward to a new challenge, playing a 13 a side game, instead of our normal 10 a side, and having to try and refrain from using the "hand off" as it was not allowed by the local laws. With teams from England, Scotland and even the Isle of Man, there was a real international atmosphere.
The matches started in sunshine with Ballymoney matched up against Howe of Fife, in a very close, physical encounter which our local lads did well to come back from a try down, to earn a well deserved draw. After a lunch break the next match against Penrith proved to be more straightforward, with a comfortable victory. The final two matches of the day were looking tough against teams with 100% records, and when the "Money" lads went down to two early intercept tries, they really had to dig deep. A quick response got them back into the match, and with the team becoming more dominant, Ballymoney managed to get the equaliser before half time. The second half started with the forwards very much on top and with the back line continuing to move the ball well. the turn around was soon complete with a fine team try to win the match. The final match on Saturday against Roundhegians, drew a big crowd as the last two undefeated teams came together to close out the days fixtures. It was to become a very tough encounter with the Ulster lads standing up well against a massive team. As the match went on however the pack started to take control at the breakdown and after good work in the middle of the pitch, the Ballymoney out-half made a fine break and outstriped the English lads defence, to grab the only score of the game.
On the Sunday our boys played out a comfortable win over Ramsey to finish off top of the league, and set up a final with Roundhegians. With our new found friends from Howe of Fife joining in with our own supporters the final got under way with the English boys were throwing everything had to try and power their way over for a score. The Ballymoney tackling was magnificent as they almost looked dwarfed against the much larger opposition. The game was on a knife edge as the second half continued much as the first half had been, but the bravery of our lads was unrelenting and it was the opposition who started to fade.Going into the final five minutes Ballymoney flashed the ball out to the left and an excellent high punt down into space was gathered at full pace by our ever alert outside half who was never going to be stopped from crossing for a score. The crowd were now in full voice and cheered the Ulster boys all the way home to a to a great win. When the final whistle blew, the scenes of utter jubliation,hugging and punching the air were a joy to see, and as had been the case all weekend both teams congratulated each other warmly and shook hands.
On the coach journey back and on to the ferry the celebrations continued, with tales of what had happened over the past couple of days, but as we neared home again and it got late, things got much quieter as our young gladiators turned back into primary school boys again and fell asleep in their dads arms.