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Nutty Krust Tournament Lisburn U18’s v Portadown U18’s Wednesday 7th March 2018
By, Barney McGonigle.
The first of this season’s games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a cold but dry Chambers Park when Lisburn U18’s and Portadown U18’s played on Wednesday evening. The Lisburn U18 team recorded a well contested 17-7 victory with all the points coming in the first half. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
Lisburn started the game strongly and controlled both possession and territory in the opening exchanges of the game. Seven minutes into the game Lisburn ran a scrum penalty from just outside their 22m area. Josh Cardosi, who impressed with his performance, chipped the ball, gathered the return and ran in to touch down for an unconverted try which gave the Lisburn team a 5-0 lead. Ten minutes later this became 12-0 when the Lisburn went through a series of scrum, lineouts and phase plays before Josh Cardosi put in an excellent kick to the corner following a penalty. Following a strong rolling maul from the resultant lineout, Conor Heasley cut through the Portadown defence to score a try which Josh Cardosi converted. Then followed a series of plays when the Portadown U18 team asked questions of the Lisburn defence with their attacking prowess. Jack Cairns, Andrew Trimble and Elvinas Killimonis all came close only to see handling errors bring promising plays to an end. Lisburn then mounted another attack which finished when their hard working flanker, Nicholas Blane, touched down for an unconverted try to increase the Lisburn lead to 17-0. Close to the end of the half the Portadown team displayed great invention when they created the opportunity for Andrew Trimble to run in for a well-deserved try. Andrew converted the try to leave the score board reading 17-7 in favour of the Lisburn team at the break.
The Portadown team, well led by their hard working captain, Stuart Reaney, started the second half strongly. A good break from Elvinas Killimonis was carried on by Jay Martin who off loaded cleverly to a support runner. Just when it looked as if Portadown were about to score the ball was knocked on in the in-goal area and the opportunity lost. Portadown continued to ask questions of the Lisburn defence and yet another glorious opportunity went a begging when the ball was once more knocked on with the try line at their mercy. Both team continued to attempt to play positive rugby with questions being asked off both defences. A number of stand-out tackles from Mario Cruz, one of a number of recent impressive new comers to the Portadown team, caught the eye of the many spectators at the game. The final few minutes of the game saw the Lisburn team mount a series of attacks close to the Portadown goal line. Anthony Gallagher linked well with fellow forwards, Andrew Cunningham and Rhys Beckett, and came close to the Portadown line on a number of occasions. Harry Boyd made a great cut for the line only to be thwarted by that man Mario Cruz once again. Despite their being no scores in the second half the entire game was much appreciated by the spectators and all the players involved can take great pride in their performances.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All players, as well as their coaches, then received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Brian Irwin, Chairman of Irwin’s Bakery and sponsor of the Nutty Krust Tournament, then presented the impressive Lisburn No 6, Nicholas Blane, with the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony.
The second of the games in the 2018 Nutty Krust Tournament will see Dungannon U18’s play Ballynahinch U18’s at 7-45pm on Wednesday 14th March under the Chambers Park floodlights. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome at this and any of the remainder of the 2018 Nutty Krust games,
