Bangor blown away at Upritchard Park
This match report can’t possibly describe in words the total performance of the 2nds on Saturday.
Newly crowned as Junior 3 Champions Grosvenor travelled with five Grosvenor Grammar schoolboys in their ranks and with some trepidation given that Bangor 2s had thumped Donaghadee 57-7 the week before.
But they needn’t have worried. The schoolboys, along with the regular 2s whose average age is in the mid 20s, delivered a performance that really bodes well for the future of Grosvenor rugby. Of course we must mention the calming influence and experience of the Rev. Mark Charles at prop.
From the very start of this match Grosvenor took the match to Bangor, first through the forwards who set the platform and then the backs who basically blew Bangor away with pace and skill which was fantastic to watch and served up a treat for the large Grosvenor support.
It also must be said that when Bangor did have the ball and running at Grosvenor I don’t think we missed a tackle all day throughout the team with notable hits from the schoolboys going in on a certain large Bangor prop who didn’t break the gain line all day.
It would be wrong to single out players such was the total team performance but it would be remiss of me not to mention schoolboy No.8 Matthew Cahoon who was outstanding in attack all day and might even be quicker than his brother Chris in the backs!
Tries came at an alarming rate and after building up a half time lead of 25-0, we really cut loose in the 2nd half playing true Grosvenor rugby scoring some great tries. Note must be made of Ben Coard with a hat trick and well done lad for buying the jug – an early introduction to that “get the jug in or you’re dropped ” criteria on the 2s! The final score ended 73-0.
With the wily old head of Charlie and the team being lead superbly by Captain Bowman we showed why this team are worthy Champions of Junior 3. The future of Grosvenor is bright gentlemen and a big thank you to all who came to Upritchard on Saturday and to the team you made us all PTBStags.
MMcC
Bonus point win at Carrick
Due to ground improvement works at Belmont this match was switched to Carrick. However there was little evidence of home advantage as Grosvenor dominated proceedings for most of the match. Grosvenor’s forwards piled on early pressure and Matty LIttle converted a penalty. After ten minutes the mercurial Little made a fine break forty metres out and weaved his way to the line for an excellent individual try. 8-0. Five minutes later he made another searing break on half-way and sent the ball left where young winger Paul Kenndey scorched in for a fine try on his 1st XV debut. 13-0. From the restart Grosvenor stole posession and whipped the ball out right where winger Andrew Robinson sprinted in for a fine try. Conversion added. 20-0. Carrick rallied briefly and scored a fine forwards try under the posts to bring them back into the game. But Andrew Kelly exploded from a rehearsed line-out move, brushing aside three would be tacklers (see pic) to extend Grosvenor’s lead and secure the bonus point with try number four just before half-time. 25-7 half-time.
Grosvenor continued to dominate in the second half and had the Carrick scrum in all sorts of difficulty, forcing them to concede a penalty try for repeated infingements at a five metre scrum. 32-7. Andrew Kelly scored another try to make it 37-7 before Andrew Robinson scored a superb try in the right hand corner, finishing off a terrific handling move. 42-7. Carrick’s frustration led to a few bouts of hand-bags and they were then reduced to 13 men through injuries. The referee brought the game to a premature close ten minutes early.
Another great league win for Grosvenor whose rich vein of form continues. They are destined to finish 4th in Qualifying 2 regardless of how their two remaining fixtures go which is a great platform on which to build for next year.
Man of the match was again close this week with the forwards as a unit playing quite superbly and that man Andrew Kelly again gets the nod.
Physio watch – Cat was sporting a particularly fetching shade of lilac nail varnish this week
