All Ireland League and Ulster Cup side Ballymena made a first visit to Port-e-Chee for a pre-season friendly, and certainly Douglas won’t meet a better team in North West Regional 2.
Although the Irish side stretched away to a 7-26 half time lead, Douglas knuckled down in a second-half that augurs well for the league campaign ahead.
Unsurprisingly Douglas took a while to settle, given new faces and combinations, and while Ballymena took advantage to score four tries, as the clock ticked Douglas began to blossom.
Ballymena Beating
Full-back Jonty Cope muscled over beneath the posts for Robson to convert, and as Australian flanker George Anthill and KWC product Ian Larson started to impose, Douglas at last garnered territory.
Ex-Myerscough hooker Josh Campbell was on the line-out money from the off, ex-Liverpool St Helens stand-off Matty Wood made an impressive debut at number 10, and Conor Garland continued his strong improvement up front.
Coach Phil Cringle ran through second-half options that included the introduction of Will Cain, Percy Hampton and Conor Stephens, and the long awaited return from injury by Harry Swayne.
Douglas Performance
Key to the determined second-half Douglas performance was simply unyielding defence, and although Ballymena went in for two tries in the 50th and 61st minutes, the theoretical gap in league standings dwindled.
And this without first choice Douglas prop Simon Hoddinott, flanker Mark Oldfield and midfielder Josh Duncan amongst others.
As the first opportunity since 2019 to prepare for a league season with a proper shakedown, this was just the ticket for Douglas.
Douglas Squad: Ralph Clarke, Josh Campbell, Owen Carvin, Conor Garland, Blake Snell, Harry Cartwright, Percy Hampton, George Antill, Ian Larson, Blake Everson, Liam Kirkpatrick, Nathan Robson, Harry Swayne, Matty Wood, Harry Hewson, Shay Waterworth, Cal Dentith, Kyle Martin, Craig Martin, Conor Stephens, Will Cain, Ollie Corkish
8 Comments