Antrim 41-20 UUC
Antrim entertained UUC on a sunny Saturday afternoon, suited for running rugby. It was a game in which both sides did not disappoint, despite the card happy refereeing. Antrim came out on top with a brace from Jack Dempster and singles from brother Matt Dempster, Neil Lyttle, Neil Manson, Gary Smith and Man of the Match David McKee.
Antrim started on the front foot and put the opposition under tremendous pressure for the first 15 minutes of the game, remaining camped on the UUC line. Despite not scoring, the UUC prop was sin binned for one indiscretion too many.
Antrim immediately capitalized on this with stand in outhalf David McKee scoring In the corner following a series of forward drives for a 5-0 lead. McKee failed to convert his own score.
The one man advantage began to show and Antrim worked the ball back up the pitch from the restart and through the backs hands for winger Jack Dempster to make a dancing break and assisting Neil Manson in support to score. McKee this time easily converted to extend the score to 12-0.
Antrim received a deep kick off and the Antrim backline, brimming with confidence, immediately counter attacked with good hands and interchanges with the pack saw full back Gary smith finish off a super team try, leaving McKee in a position to convert for a 19-0 lead.
UUC took time to wake up and were determined not to let this turn into a rout. With some good lineout play and Antrim’s indiscipline at the breakdown, UUC were gaining ground. Antrim Number 8 Ben Phelps was yellow carded which aided UUC attempts to find a way to the Antrim line. A quick tap penalty saw UUC score to take the score to 19-5, going into half time.
Antrim received the kick off for the second half and a deep kick chase from McKee and the centres of Perry and Manson saw the UUC full back cough up possession resulting in an Antrim attack being stopped on the UUC line near the right corner. The UUC hooker was sin binned at this juncture and lucky not to be red carded for some choice words towards the referee. An undeterred Antrim took the scrum and through a well worked training ground move, allowing winger Jack Dempster to score in the corner as McKee failed to convert for the 24-5 lead.
It was Antrim who continued to control possession in the middle of the park and after a series of rucks, wing forward Matt Dempster was yellow carded for foul play in the ruck. A quick tap caught Antrim unawares and saw UUC camped on the Antrim line. The UUC outhalf attacked the gap and scored near in the corner to take the score to 24-10 after failing to convert.
Antrim now appeared to hit the brick wall and straight from the kick off UUC attacked again by using Antrim’s own tactics of offloading in contact against them. The UUC was able to score again this time in the opposite corner to take the score to 24-15.
Both teams were now back to their full complement and UUC continued to attack but Antrim began to rouse from their slumber with some ferocious tackling which pressed UUC back to the half way line.
Some good tactical kicking saw Antrim press deep into the UUC half. A break from centre Smyth, on for the injured Dave kenning , saw him tackled short of the posts and prop Neil Lyttle wriggle over to score as McKee missed the conversion. Antrim now lead 29-15
UUC refused to lie down and continued to attack but an interception on the halfway line saw Antrim winger Jack Dempster race away to break UUC hearts and score his second as Antrim lead 34-15 after the missed conversion.
To their credit, UUC immediately put Antrim under pressure in their own 22 and some sloppy Antrim tackling efforts, allowed the UUC outhalf in for his hat trick to take the score to 34-20.
However it was Antrim who had the final say in this end to end fixture. Antrim attacked again from the restart, regaining possession and a break from MB hire man of the match, David McKee saw him offload to wing forward, Matt Dempster to make up for his yellow card and score under the posts. McKee converted as the match ended 41-20.
