Roe Men Exit Towns Cup
Powerade Towns Cup 1st Round
Limavady 3 Portadown 29
For the first time this season Limavady tasted defeat, and in truth, Portadown were rarely in trouble from the first whistle as the young Roesiders just couldn’t get their hands on the ball to ask any serious questions of the Qualifying 1 side. True, the Qualifying 3 leaders defended heroically and didn’t disgrace themselves, but lead by a vastly experienced pack, the Mid-Ulster outfit were never in danger of being victims of a cup upset.
The one thing that Limavady Head Coach Paul O’Kane would have wanted would have been a good start, but it was the visitors who got off to a real flier when after a quick penalty and a kick behind the Limavady cover, No 8 McCoy won the chase to score in the corner. Out half Cousins kicked a great conversion for a 7-0 lead after just 3mins of play. Jack McCool got Limavady on the scoreboard after 13mins when he landed a penalty from just inside his on half. Hoping this would give the home team it needed were quickly put to bed as Cousins landed his second kick of the day for a 10-3 lead.
The home team were defending brilliantly and continued to frustrate the visitors, as well as holding their own in the scrum. But unfortunately the lineout wasn’t functioning as good as normal and with five minutes of the half left to play No 8 McCoy claimed his second major of the day following an excellent maul. Cousins added the extras for a 17-3 lead. The visitors defence was in a mean mood today, and despite the best efforts of Scott, Lamberton and Haslett, Limavady could not get their running game going. Cousins missed a further penalty attempt and McCool went close with two attempts himself, so at the turnaround the visitors held a 17-3 lead.
Any notion of a second half comeback were quickly dispelled on 48mins when winger Purvis was given a clear run into the corner to establish a 22-3 lead. To their credit the young Roesiders stuck to their task and continued to frustrate their visitors with McCollum, Browne and captain Irvine all scoring high in the tackle count, but with Tully and Cousins pulling the strings and Carleton and McCoy ruling the roast up front, Limavady were finding it very difficult to just get out of their half.
The final score of the day arrived on 75mins when the visitors took advantage of some tired legs in the Limavady pack to score a pushover try which was claimed by No 8 McCoy who capped a fine display with a hatrick. Limavady thought they got over the line in the remaining minutes but a strong defence held up second row Michael Rice. Moments later referee Stewart brought proceedings to an end.
Final Score Limavady 3 Portadown 29
A few harsh lessons for the Roesides to take in after a disappointing result, but after running up some big scores this season it was pleasing to see them battle gamely to the bitter end against a side that plays their rugby two leagues above them. Hopefully it won’t be long until Limavady are this type of opposition on a more regular basis.
Teams.
Limavady. P. Wilson, R. Lamberton, J.M. Miller, J. McCool, M. Haslett, L. Faulkner, J. Miller. C. Scott, A. McIlmoyle, J. McCollum, J. Purcell, M. Rice, S. Mackey, P. Browne. D. Irvine. Subs. C. Tinney, T. McClelland.
Portadown. A. Morton, R. Purvis, N. Irwin, C. Woods, J. Orr, C. Cousins, D. Tully. M. Henderson, R. Reid, M. Wilson, J. Carleton, W. Graham, G. Hall, M. Alister, G. McCoy. Subs D. O’Kane, G. Reid.
It’s back to the bread and butter of the league next week as the Roe Men take their unbeaten league run to another Mid-Ulster side, this time in the form of Lurgan. Kick off at Pollock Park is at 2.30pm, while the seconds are also back in league action with a home match against Ballynahinch 5ths. This one too kicks off at 2.30pm.
