Lurgan returned to Pollock Park on Saturday evening with two well earned league points and also a piece of silverware after retaining Jim Allen’s Wolfhound Cup. The margin of victory may look comfortable in the end but for the first 50 minutes the match was locked at 3 – 3 and was either side’s for the taking
In perfect rugby-playing weather, Service stepped on to the pitch optimistic with the prospect of regaining the Wolfhound Cup. It has been a number of years since Service last tasted victory in Jim Allens’ Wolfhound Cup which was being contested for the 29th time. Lurgan having previously gained 17 victories to Civil Services’ 10 with there being one draw in 2008.
Lurgan opened the scoring in the first minute through a Stephen Nolan penalty from 25 meters and Nolan had the chance to double his sides lead six minutes later only to push his effort across the posts.
Service totally dominated play for the reminder of the half as Lurgan had to do their fair share of defending and the visitors did soak up plenty of pressure on their own line and held Service out as Peter Hoskins kicked a penalty between the uprights for Service but was unfortunate to narrowly miss two more kicks during a time when Service put Lurgan under great pressure
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Seven minutes before the break Lurgan had flanker Jamie Pedlow sin binned for a team offence as they played the rest of the half with 14 men and the opening stages of the second half. Four minutes into first half injury time Lurgan broke out of their own half and received a penalty on the left hand touchline but Stephen Nolan’s effort grazed the left hand upright and the score remained locked at 3 – 3 at the break. The whistle went for half time with the sides locked at 3-3 but with Service having looking the better team.
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Following the half time wake up call the visitors came to life in the second half and they set up camp in the Service half. On 50 minutes Lurgan disrupted a Service scrum and when the ball squirted out the home side’s half backs were put under pressure and second row Aaron Robinson pounced in the right hand corner to give his side the lead. Stpehen Nolan landed the touchline conversion and the same player also added penalties on 62 and 65 minutes to extend Lurgan’s lead to 16 – 3
With a full 15 back on the field Lurgan scored a breakthrough try 10 minutes into the second half. Service had lost control of the ball in the scrum allowing the Lurgan 2nd Row to win possession and touch down in the corner. Lurgan capitalised with the conversion. Two more penalties against the Service team gave Lurgan a 16 – 3 lead.
With 10 minutes left to play, Service scored after some great breakthrough play. Number 8, Phil Patterson, supplied the final pass to Andrew Sloan who crashed over from 5 yards, bringing Service back into the game. A successful conversion by Peter Hoskins made it 16-10.
As the game near the final whistle, there was great excitement from the sidelines. Service supporters tried to rally behind the team and encourage the victory they knew Service were capable of and which the first half display warranted.
. But four minutes later the league points were all but secured for Logan with the play of the match. From just inside the Lurgan half the visitors moved the ball across the pitch through a number of phases before taking play into the Service 22. From there the ball was spun from right to left through the hands and left wing Johnny Kingham received the ball 10 meters out and showed his strength to barge his way over the line to score in the corner with Nolan banging over an excellent touchline conversion for a 13 points lead. The visitor’s third try of the afternoon came on 73 minutes from the impressive Grant Martin who was making his return to the 1st XV in the unusual position of first centre. From a scrum just outside the Service 22 the ball was moved to the right to Nolan who put Johnny Kingham though but he was well tackled. Quick recycling saw the ball from scrum half Chris Jenks to Nolan who made the half break and fed Grant Martin on his inside and the centre cantered in under the posts to leave Nolan with the simple conversion and complete the scoring.
Following the match the Wolfhound Cup was presented to Lurgan Captain Graham Currie by Civil Service President Shaun McMorran. This was Lurgan’s 18 success in the 29th year of the cup being played between the two sides with Civil Service gaining 10 wins and only one draw between the side’s which was back in 2008. Lurgan would like to thank their friends at Civil Service for the post match hospitality and meal and look forward to the return fixture in the New Year. Lurgan have a free week this Saturday and return to Kukri Qualifying three action on December 4 with a trip to Newforge to take on PSNI. Lurgan team: R Clarke, C Wamsley, D Swift, G Martin, J Kingham; S Nolan, C Jenks; G Currie (Capt), G Wickie, A Mackey, A Robinson, C Mallon, D Reid, J Pedlow, K McBride.
For Civil Service, Bryns’ man of the match was Ben Scott for a fantastic all round performance but he was closely run by Andrew “Boney” Sloan who stepped in to cover in the front row, he showed aggression and held his side well in set pieces and converted a well worked team try.
compiled by intouch rugby from notes submitted by Paddy Allen, Lurgan RFC & Brinley Strugeon Civil Service RFC.
