REPORT & SHOTS Limavady 1s v UUC 1s
Roesiders Pass Stern Student Test
Kukri Qualifying League Section 3
Limavady 12 UUC 0
Limavady made 13 wins from 13 games on Saturday past after seeing off the stiff challenge of fellow promotion rivals UUC. Back in September in the the third match of the season, Limavady produced a stunning display to run in six tries against the students, but that was on a late summers day when the conditions allowed for some scintillating running rugby. However, this is now December and the heavy muddy sod of the John Hunter Memorial Grounds didn’t allow for a repeat showing.
The visitors clawed their way back into the promotion mix up last week by ending second placed PSNI’s unbeaten home record and they started with the intent to end the homeside’s unbeaten start to the season. From the first scrum they made a statement and this continued throughout the game as Limavady struggled to get to grips with a big Uni pack. Thankfully the line out was working fine and on 12 mins came the opening score of the game. Turning down an opportunity to kick for goal from a penalty, Luke Faulknour kick to the corner. Captain Daniel Irvine won the lineout and lead the rolling maul to the endzone where Johnny Blair got the all important touchdown for his second try of the season.
The response from the students was to go on the attack again, but despite dominating in the territory and possession stakes, they couldn’t find a way past a water tight home defence. The homeside increased their lead on the half hour mark. A scrum in the Uni ’22’ lead to Luke Faulknour and Greg Jordan combining to put Peter Wilson in the clear, who fed Robert Lamberton who managed to sneak in at the corner. Jack McCool added the extras with a fine conversion from the sideline.
Half Time Limavady 12 UUC 0
The second half started in much the same manner as the first but for all their endeavours, the visitors just couldn’t find a way past a home defence that was not in the mood of giving away easy scores. Although they did dominate at scrum time, the lose of many of their own lineouts and a lack of a cutting edge in their attackwill be a major cause for concern to the Uni coaching staff. Credit to Peter Browne, John McColhum, Daniel Irvine and Jack McCool who all claimed steals on the opposition throw.
Full Time Limavady 12 UUC 0
So plenty of questions asked in what was the toughest game of the year on a day when the young Roesiders had to dig deep to claim the victory points. The current state of play in Qualifying 3 shows the top 3 all on 13 matches played. Limavady are in a very healthy state with a 16 point lead over the PSNI, with the Coleraine students a further four points adrift.
Team: P. Wilson, R. Lamberton, J.M. Miller, G. Jordan, S. Roddy, L. Faulknour, J. Miller. A. McIlmoyle, J. Blair, J. McColhum, C. Tinney, M. Rice, J. McCool, P. Browne, D. Irvine.
Next week it’s another North West Derby as Limavady take their unbeaten record to Dave Gallagher Memorial Park to face Letterkenny. Kick off is at 2.30pm.
Those travelling to Letterkenny will have a bonus game for their entertainment as at 12.30pm Limavady will take on their hosts in a over 35/Legends game. This will be the first time this season that Limavady will have fielded in such a game and it is hoped that it will not be the last either. Although they have not organised any recent training sessions, there is talk of a Captains Run taking place on Friday evening. First one to turn up, gets the job of Captain!!
