ULSTER and Irish rugby legend David Humphreys was forced to leave Omagh Academicals’ annual dinner on Saturday as the news of the Spence family tragedy emerged.
Ulster and Irish Wolfhounds player Nevin Spence, 22, died in a farming accident on Saturday alongside his father Noel, 52, and his brother Graham, 30. Nevin’s sister, Emma, a well-known artist, was also involved in the accident and was released from hospital on Sunday night.
It is believed that Mr Spence became trapped in an underground slurry tank at the family farm in Hillsborough and his two sons and daughter rushed to his aid. The Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) said two of its senior inspectors attended the scene on Saturday evening.
“From HSENI’s initial investigations, it understands that the three family members who entered an underground slurry tank died from the effects of exposure to slurry gases. The exact sequence of events is not yet clear but HSENI is investigating a definite line of enquiry,” a statement read.
The tragedy has caused deep shock across the community and the sporting world has been quick to pay tribute to Nevin, a centre who represented Ulster on 42 occasions and Ireland A twice, and who also represented Northern Ireland in football at youth level.
Omagh Academicals RFC president, Ivor Lyons, said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Spence family on behalf of Omagh Academicals. It was with great sadness that we learnt of the accident on Saturday evening and our thoughts are with the family at this most difficult time. Nevin Spence was a huge talent and had a huge future ahead of him with Ulster and Ireland. Our thoughts are also with both Ulster Rugby and his club, Ballynahinch RFC.”
Humpreys made a presentation to a number of the Accies youth representatives and posed for several photographs before exiting on news of the accident.
Ravenhill, Belfast, will be open from 10am to 5pm daily for fans and friends of Nevin and his family to pay their own respects and sign a book of condolence.
Omagh 3 18 vs 7 Donaghadee 2
Accies 3s win first game of Season
By Kyle Porter | Monday 17th September 2012
Omagh 3XV 18 – 7 Donaghadee 2XV
Omagh Accies 3rds began their campaign against Donaghadee 2nds on Saturday having been moved up a league after a shakeup of the sections. The ‘dee’ kicked off to Omagh and it was clear their tactics were simple big runners down the narrow channels. It was to be the hard tacking of Omagh’s back row which was to set the tone of the match with Darren Kane, Clive Rainey and Richard Harpur putting an end to the visitor’s plans. From this the front five grew in confidence and started to disrupt the oppositions scrum and lineout. It was from a stolen lineout that Omagh’s first score would come, a stolen ball by captain Peter Todd led Colin Keys to set up some great continuity play down the blind side before being put away by scrum half dean mcconnell under the posts for the opening score. Richard Elkin converted. The next score would come from a penalty where the ‘Dee’ had infringed at the ruck leading Richard Elkin to slot the 3 pointer leaving it 10-0 at the break. The second half started much the same as the first with the visitors trying to use their big runners to set up first phase ball. The hosts unfortunately had to go down to 14 men as they lost Sam Brown to injury 10 minutes in. This bolstered the visitors and from a poor clearance and with no full back allowed the counter attacking winger to find a gap in the Omagh defence to slot under the posts to leave the score 10-7 with 25 to go. Omagh then took the game by the scruff of the neck, Matthew Eccles who had the beating of his opposite man all day chipped through on the opposing 22’ and with no full back covering for the visitors dived on his own ball to score Omagh’s second try. Leaving the score 15-7. Omagh then controlled the last exchanges earning a penalty in front of the visitor’s posts which Elkin duly converted to leave the game out of reach of the visitors to finish 18-7. This was a fine performance by Omagh, defined by a very resolute defence in a new tough league. Special mention must go to Michael Gibson who performed well at wing. Team 1. Peter Todd (C) 2. Colin Keys 3. Stephen Giboney 4. Matthew Barbour 5. Alan Knox 6. Clive Rainey 7. Richard Harpur 8. Darren Kane 9. dean mcconnell 10. Richard Elkin 11. Jamie Brown 12. David Barton 13. Matthew Eccles 14. Michael Gibson 15. Sam Brown
Limavady 17 vs 24 Omagh 1
Accies 1s First Win of Season
By Kyle Porter | Sunday 16th September 2012
Omagh 24 – 17 Limavady
Qualifying League Two
Limavady 17
Omagh 24
Omagh Accies opened up their account for the season with a solid winning performance against Limavady at John Hunter Memorial Grounds in Qualifying League Two.
With a plethora of players out through injury, the Accies fielded another very young team with several new combinations throughout the side and were delighted to take the points and avoid any further losses in terms of personnel.
“The win was the most important thing today. It gives us a platform that we can build upon”, noted Omagh captain, Mervyn Edgar. “We will hope to have a few players back and available for the next league match”, he reflected with the Accies having 8 first team squad members currently injured.
“The lads that have come in have acquitted themselves well showing the progress we are making as a club, he added.
Phil Marshall’s men lined up against a familiar face with ex-club captain, Greg Jordan lining up at out half for the Roesiders. The Kiwi looked very dangerous any time he got clean quick ball, creating space for his centres, but it was a credit to the pack that the home were devoid of clean primary possession and much of their ball was slow.
Omagh started well, playing some attractive rugby and showing god cohesiveness for a side that continues to show many changes from week to week. They took the lead courtesy of a David Ward penalty early on which served to settle them, before registering their first try of the game.
Ward was instrumental in this, taking a great line in between centres Ryan Mitchell and Alan Heaney. The rangy fullback created space and sent Heaney away in the corner. He added the conversion.
In control in the first period with the scrum solid and the lineout jumpers, Mark Millar and Jonny Giboney putting pressure on the home throw. Giboney stole several balls to deny the home backs anything to work with, though they did break at the end of the half and registered a try against the run of play.
Ashley McIlwaine was penalised and shown the yellow card as the half closed in. Limavady opted to take the scrum and probed around the fringes for several possessions before a pick and go around the side saw them dive over for their opening score which went unconverted.
Half time 10-5.
The second period saw Omagh play their best rugby of the year, keeping possession well and asking questions of the home defence. They have tended to force the pass on too many occasions but remained patient on Saturday, going through their patterns and probing the home defence. Ward capitalised on a passage of play which saw the ball recycled 15 times to dive over in the corner. He added the conversion.
Limavady responded immediately with a try of their own to reduce the arrears to 17-10.
Scott Elliott continued his excellent form, playing in an unaccustomed position of scrum half and he registered Omagh’s third try with a neat snipe around the blind side to score near the posts with Ward adding the conversion.
The Co. Tyrone men sniffed a bonus point and a fourth try before the final whistle but were rocked with Limavady adding another converted try at the death. This left the score 24-17 in favour of the Co. Tyrone side, an opening win and while an away win is always impressive in this very competitive league, especially against a team relegated from the section above, Omagh will be pleased with their performance.
Another bonus was the lack of injuries, endemic in Omagh this seasons, and with the conference match against Ballynahinch coming up next week, it will allow Coach, phil marshall an opportunity to rest some players with niggles and offer the walking wounded another week to get healthy.
Dean Porter made his debut for the first team at open side flanker and had a solid opening game, while Ward was impressive as was Elliot at scrum half.
Team: David Ward, Ashley McIlwaine, Ryan Mitchell, Alan Heaney, Andy McFarland, Jamie Lagan, Scott Elliott, Kevin Donaghy, Adam Pollock, Mark Smyth, Mark Millar, Jonny Giboney, Mervyn Edgar (c), Dean Porter, Richard Smyth.
