Ballymena secure late win

Buccaneers 17 Ballymena 21

Ballymena chalked up their fourth straight AIB League victory tonight with a late comeback against Buccaneers.

Buccs' first league match under the Dubarry Park floodlights went the way of the Braidmen as scrum half Craig Woods snatched a last-minute try.

Two touchdowns from Conor O'Loughlin (first minute) and Aidan Wynne (8) shot Buccs ahead.

It was a dream start for the home side. Ballymena sent the ball straight into touch off the kick-off and from the scrum back on halfway, scrum half O'Loughlin picked and went and broke clean through and all the way to the visitors' line.

Woods replied with a penalty before a break down the left wing ended with Wynne dotting down and Alan Gaughan supplied the conversion.

Finding themselves 12-3 down at half-time, Ballymena managed to turn things around and roar into a 14-12 lead.

Key man Woods kicked two penalties and full-back Jamie Smith sped over for his second try in as many games.

Buccs then turned possession into points as after a break by the lively Alex Hayman, hooker Garrett Halligan muscled his way over the whitewash for a 67th minute.

That score went unconverted and Ballymena, playing right to the final whistle, stole in for the win with a last-gasp attack.

When the ball was moved infield, the Buccs defence was found wanting and Woods juggled the ball before regaining full control and dashing in under the posts for the clinching seven-pointer.

Scorers:

Buccaneers: Tries: Conor O’Loughlin, Aidan Wynne, Garrett Halligan; Con: Alan Gaughan

Ballymena: Tries: Jamie Smith, Craig Woods; Con: Craig Woods; Pens: Craig Woods 3