Kukri Qualifying League 2 Bangor 1XV v Limavady 1XV Uprichard Park, Bangor
23rd February 2013
A depleted Limavady travelled to a Bangor team hoping to keep the pressure on Ballyclare. Even with ten regulars missing, the visitors started brighter, and went ahead with huge penalty effort from Pearse McNickle. Limavady continued to probe and were given an other opportunity this time McNickle failed by the narrowest of margins.
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From the restart the seasiders started to dominate. Opting to kick for touch instead of going for the three points proved to be the right option when they mauled over from close range. Winger D. Charles credited with the try but centre J. Morgan missed the resulting conversation. In an almost carbon copy of their first score, Bangor where at it again, mauling over from close range, this time prop C. Schofield crossing the whitewash. Morgan again missed the conversation attempt.
Limavady tried to secure more possession but Bangor continued to dominate, and it wasn’t long before they secures their third try. The home side were awarded a penalty 10 metres out, for Limavady man Greg Jordan not rolling away, an offence he also received 10 minutes in the sin bin for. Bangor elected to run the penalty and a gap appeared for centre Morgan to ease through, he then converted his own try.
Bangor seemed to waiting for the half time whistle, but there was still plenty of time left in the half. Roesider scrum half Ross Parkhill used all his guile and grabbed a clever intercept running 60 metres before the being caught. Possession was retained and Limavady ran through a few more fazes before Bangor conceded a penalty. McNickle stepped up and added another 3 points to his tally.
There was still time left for another chance, Stuart Hull broke the tackle and sped away being caught just inside the home teams 22. Parkhill threw a weary pass but McNickle was on hand to kick and chase through a hole in the Bangor defence. The try was awarded although the home side may have had an issue with the grounding. McNickle dusted himself off and slotted the conversion on the stroke of halftime. HT 17 -13
A rollocking from the Bangor coaching staff kicked them into gear in the second half. Quick try’s from winger Charles and second row Corbett gave the home team a 29-13 lead with 35 minutes remaining. Another couple of try’s from centre Morgan and Charles, his third, again compounded more misery on Limavady.
The most unusual incident was yet to happen. On the way to their eighth try, centre Morgan took an exception to Limavady prop Clive Scott. Winger Charles grounded his fourth of the afternoon, but all eyes were on Morgan. He was angry at Scott not getting out of his way, and continued to lambast Scott with a variety of expletives. When the referee got involved Morgan continued his tirade claiming this was “a mans game…” as well as a torrent of abuse at the referee. It resulted in a sin binning for Scott and for Morgan. Something he didn’t agree with abusing the referee even more, before kicking the ball off the tee, leaving the referee with no option but another yellow card resulting in a red.
Any fizz was taken out of the game after that melee, and no other points where scored. Bangor did finish the game with 13 men after flanker Hatton was sent off late on. FT 48-13
