Malone get final run against Ballymena losing 26-28 in a close fought friendly.

Malone played Ballymena in the last of their three pre season training games, Ballymena ran out narrow winners when Malone looked to have done enough to secure the win they defensively fell asleep and allowed Ballymena to score a soft try, a late Malone unconverted effort was insufficient to claim the win

The game was played over three periods and both sides to the opportunity to use their whole squad, this along with positional changes did little to assist consistency.

Both sides wanted to play open rugby and Ballymena looked to claim the opening score but the ball was knocked forward and the opportunity lost.

Malone opened the scoring when out half Henderson crossed the line with the conversion this gave the homeside a 7-0 lead.

Malone looked sharp and winger Jay Malcolm made a superb break up the wing but a Ballymena player managed to get a hand on him and he was bundled into touch.

The second period saw Ballymena intensify their efforts and they were rewarded with a try when after a Malone line out the managed to secure the ball to score a converted try scores now level at 7-7.

Ballymena scored next when after an attacking scrum going forward a Malone player was adjudged by the referee to have slipped his binding and the penalty try was awarded, Ballymena take the lead 7-14.

The Ballymena pack started to dominate the scrum and their next score was text book the ball was lifted from the rear of the scrum in front of the Malone posts and the player ran unopposed to cross the line for another converted try to extend their lead 7-21.

Malone reduced the deficit when prop Gary Crawford spun out of a rolling maul and broke away to score, Gribben added the conversion to leave the score 14-21.

Both sides continued to move the ball but Malone took advantage of some poor ball handling by Ballymena and Taylor Acheson made a superb up the wing and off loaded inside superbly to Darryl Maxwell to score the equalising try.

A Malone defensive error allowed Ballymena to re take the lead with a converted try, now 28-21 ahead. Malone scred a late try when after some excellent work by the pack in the club house corner the ball was moved inside at pace for them to score, alas Gribben was wide with the conversion which would have given them the draw. Ballymena won by 28-26.

Next week will see us play our first competitive game of the season when we travel to banbridge on Thursday evening to start our Ulster senior league campaign.