In the opening few minutes, Dromore had an early chance after a great break, but Ballyclare worked quickly over the ball to force the penalty. The visiting side continued to press, and their pressure was soon rewarded with a penalty.
Just three minutes later, Dromore struck through their centre, Graeme McCandless, after a period of pressure. McDonald landed the conversion to put ten points between the two sides.
Ballyclare’s first points came through the boot of out-half, Matthew McDowell, after Dromore were caught off-side. Just three minutes later, however, Dromore cancelled it out as McDonald landed another penalty, restoring their 10-point advantage.
Ballyclare’s first try came off the back of a maul from the line-out, with blindside flanker Ross Johnston picking up to power over for the Hares. McDowell was unable to land the tricky conversion.
The men in red had another opportunity; Grant Bartley looking certain to score but great Dromore defence kept him held up over the line to give them the goal-line drop-out.
The County Down side found themselves temporarily down to 14 when Richard Dickson disrupted Ballyclare’s attack and he was sin-binned for knocking on. Ballyclare immediately profited; their tighthead Jack Black crossing the whitewash. Matthew McDowell landed the conversion to take the lead going into the break.
The Cloughan side started the second half as they finished the first. With a free-play, Matthew McDowell had great vision to chip the ball over for Owen Kirk to collect and score. McDowell added the conversion to put Ballyclare 9 points ahead.
Ballyclare had a penalty opportunity on 50 minutes to extend their lead further, but McDowell’s kick was off-target. They continued to probe, and their full-back Mark Jackson made a superb break. They made the switch to go out wide on the left, but the kick through couldn’t go to hand.
Another chance went begging for the men in red, scrum-half Ryan McIlwaine directing his forwards to go on the pick-and-go. Matthew Coulter looked close to scoring but the referee spotted a knock-on as he tried to ground the ball. Dromore got the scrum.
The home side were in the ascendancy. They opted to go wide where they found space for Josh Cowan to bundle over in the corner for an unconverted try.
It wasn’t long until he made his brace; once again Ballyclare sent the ball through the hands out left for Cowan to go in for his second. McDowell’s conversion attempt bounced off the uprights.
Dromore pulled one back with just over ten minutes remaining. After a series of pick-and-goes, tighthead prop Andrew Black muscled over for their second try of the afternoon. Adam McDonald slotted the conversion to reduce the deficit to 12 points.
Momentum had swung Dromore’s way, and they pounced again with just three minutes left through Matthew Shirlow driving over. TJ Morris fired over the conversion to put five points between the two sides, but time wasn’t on their side as Ballyclare held on for the win.
Full-time score: Ballyclare 32 Dromore 27
Scorers
Ballyclare
Tries: Ross Johnston, Jack Black, Owen Kirk, Josh Cowan (2)
Cons: Matthew McDowell (2)
Pens: Matthew McDowell
Dromore
Tries: Graeme McCandless, Andrew Black, Matthew Shirlow
Cons: Adam McDonald (2), TJ Morris
Pens: Adam McDonald (2)
Line-ups
Ballyclare
(15-9) Mark Jackson, Owen Kirk, Joel McBride (Capt.), Matthew McCullough, Matthew Fitzgerald, Matthew McDowell, Ryan McIlwaine;
(1-8) Adam Barron, Matthew Coulter, Jack Black, Josh Young, Grant Bartley, Ross Johnston, Aaron Playfair, Jack Gamble.
Replacements: Ricky Lutton, Jamie Orr, Ryan Tweed, Scott Martin, Josh Cowan.
Dromore
(15-9) Andrew Rutledge, Brian McClearn, Graeme McCandless, Josh Brame, Ben Russell, Adam McDonald (Capt.), TJ Morris;
(1-8) Mark Hylands, Tom Lyttle, Andrew Black, Adam McDonald, Richard Dickson, Blair McDonald, Peter Elliott, Adam MacGregor.
Replacements: Aaron McKinstry, Matthew Shirlow, Robert Shaw, Jonny Maguire, Jason Gribbon.