The Front Row UnionThis is a category page for Ballyclare RFC and it will show all posts and galleries where the club have been tagged on The Front Row Union. New coverage will appear here automatically as it is produced and we’ll continue to transition “historical” coverage across until complete, around the end of August 2020.
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Larne came out on top against Ballyclare in an U18 hit out at The Cloughan on Saturday morning. It as a well contested game from both sides but Larne were just that bit sharper in attack and were able to take their chances. Cain Ferguson gets the opening score against Ballyclare Cain Ferguson opened the […]
Larne RFC christened their new floodlights last night with the first leg of back to back U21 matches last night. The second leg takes place at The Cloughan next Wednesday. It’s a testament to the hard work of the clubs development coaches that they were able to field two strong sides at this age grade […]
Rugby made a welcome return to The Cloughan at Ballyclare on Saturday 19th September with a pre-season hit out against Ballymoney RFC. The game was played over 4 x 20 minute quarters. Ballyclare started strongly and were on the scoreboard early when out-half Matthew McDowell cut through a space in the Ballymoney defence to score […]
[pullquote]Report and images courtesy of Richard Owens. [/pullquote] This semi final clash between the top two teams in Championship Division 1, both well ahead of their nearest rivals, would offer a tasty chance for league and cup double. I’ve seen both teams play exciting rugby mixing their set pieces with fast open running so I was […]
With a light fixture list on the club scene at the weekend we took the opportunity to drop into Provincial D1 where we covered two matches. Our first report featured Queen’s University II’s recording a big win against Dungannon II’s and this one was equally emphatic with runaway league leaders Rainey Old Boys defended their […]
It took Ballyclare a while to get into this game, with Ards putting up strong resistance in the first half hour, but a four try burst towards the end of the first half pushed the game firmly in their favour. Ards enjoyed the better of the first quarter and racked up a penalty from Paul […]
[pullquote]Report and pictures Richard Owens[/pullquote] Cup semi finals usually produce furious competition and this match delivered. Having watched Enniskillen put CIYMS and Instonians to the sword I had a hunch they might come out on top despite being the away team. Sun warming the soft pitch Ballyclare began well, catching their own kick off and […]
[pullquote]Report and pictures by Bob Given Photography[/pullquote] Ballyclare travelled to a sunny Gibson Park yesterday to play Grosvenor in a Kukri Championship Division 1 League game. The visitors started in determined fashion with Michael Kirk crashing over in the corner for an unconverted try in the opening minutes. Ballyclare go on the attack against Grosvenor […]
Ballyclare Rugby Club held the held the Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival at the Cloughan on Saturday with over 900 players, coaches and support staff taking part in a fun filled day. The following teams took part in over 160 matches in the U15 and Adult competitions. Ballymena Bears, Newforge Taggers, Bantry Bay West […]
THE Annual Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival for young people with a learning disability will be held at Ballyclare Rugby Club on Saturday 8th June. The event will be the biggest ever and is due to be attended by over 900 players and coaches from England, Wales and the whole of Ireland. The event […]
Enniskillen RFC secured the Towns Cup, in their third appearance in the Ravenhill showpiece final in recent years, with a 19 – 0 win against Ballyclare on Easter Monday afternoon. The match starkly demonstrated the pain and the pleasure of a big match final as the pre match underdogs worked over their much fancied rivals […]
Ballyclare 4th XV won the Forster Cup following a 15 – 3 win against Academy 2nd XV on Saturday afternoon at Ravenhill. Academy opened the scoring with a penalty but Ballyclare bossed the remainder of the first half with two tries, one converted, taking the score to 12 – 3 in Ballyclare’s favour at the […]
Dromore spoiled the party at The Cloughan on Saturday afternoon with the visitors dogging out a 13 – 17 win against title favourites Ballyclare in an Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1 match. In the round of last league matches for the season, the defeat for Ballyclare allowed Instonians to leapfrog the East Antrim side and […]
I’d been looking forward to this match for a while. Unfortunately fate and atrocious weather conspired to make it less spectacular than it could have been, but it was a fine match nonetheless. With one photographer away photographing penguins in the Antarctic and another entertaining old friends I thought I’d try and cover the first […]
A scintillating first half from Ballyclare, against Ballynahinch II at Ballymacarn Park, sees the Co. Antrim side progress to the next round of the Towns Cup. As a Larne man it pains me to write this, but Ballyclare were simply magnificent in the first half of this match, outdoing their opponents in almost every facet […]
Instonians inflicted the first Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship defeat of the season on Ballyclare on Saturday afternoon at Shaws Bridge. Instonians dominated the opening quarter with second rows Sean Shuttleworth and Alan Whitten both scoring tries, converted by Andy Keane, to give the home side a 14 – 0 lead. Ballyclare’s Michael Kirk took advantage […]
We had tipped this All Ireland Junior Cup quarter final as one of our games of the weekend and it didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, the home side came up just short against a sharp Wicklow team. Ballyclare got off to the best of starts with Joel McBride jinking through the Wicklow defence to score under the […]
A tantalising East Antrim derby close to home was the ideal opportunity for another dip into the Ulster Rugby Conference D1 this season as I made the short journey to The Cloughan to watch Ballyclare entertain Carrickfergus on Saturday afternoon. As a Larne man it does pain me to say that both teams served up […]
Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1 leaders Ballyclare escaped with all the points after a hard fought win against newly promoted Grosvenor at Gibson park on Saturday afternoon. Despite missing a few key players Grosvenor remained competitive against the Championship pacesetters who’s industrious centre, Joel McBride, was the main difference between the teams. McBride topped and […]
Ballyclare recorded a comfortable victory at home to Portadown in a high scoring match. Three tries in the first half gave Ballyclare a 22-7 lead at half time. Callum Wilson gave the home side a great start before Ross Johnston and Michael Kirk crossed midway through the half. Robert Smith converted two tries and kicked […]
The Guinness Carrick 7’s kicked off on Friday evening with eight teams competing in the Kukri Under 18’s Tournament at the Woodlawn Grounds. The tournament was won by Belfast Met U18 after a tense final against BRA’s Pink Panthers. A late try from captain Sam Cardwell secured the 19 – 17 win after an early […]
The final match of the afternoon feature Dungannon and Ballyclare in the Forster Cup and it featured the most exciting finish and an attempted tackle that will go down in infamy alongside Tony Underwood’s attempt on Jonah Lomu. đŸ˜† It was a tense and tight match from start to finish with the teams turning round […]
Much as it pains a Larne man to report, Ballyclare were just to strong for Portadown in the Towns Cup Final yesterday afternoon at a cold, wet and windy Ravenhill with the White Hares recording a comfortable 27 – 6 win in difficult conditions. Ballyclare out half Robert Smith expertly orchestrated events behind a powerful […]
Played before a huge crowd at The Cloughan, Ballyclare scored a deserving victory over league leaders Instonians to bring themselves to within three points of their South Belfast rivals. Michael Kirk’s try in the third quarter was the difference between the top two in a very tense encounter. Ballyclare kicked off in near perfect conditions […]