Malone RFC 0 – 46 Antrim
After last week’s brave win over Enniskillen in the opening round of the McCambley Cup, Antrim resumed league duties with a trip to Belfast to face Malone, who sat third in the league prior to the game. The game ended with an 8 try demolition and a superb hat trick from David Thompson, with braces for Neil Manson and John Bull, followed by a try from Ben Phelps. The result ensured that Antrim went into the Christmas break atop of the pile with Ballynahinch, pulling away from third and fourth place.
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The conditions were atrocious for rugby with severe gales blowing, in a game which it was important to keep ball to hand and get points on the board quickly.
The first score came on the opening minutes after Antrim secured a scrum on the back of a great break from halfway from Andrew Calvert in centre. An excellent training ground move from the scrum, allowed Gary Walker to send Neil Manson over to score as Antrim took a 7-0 lead following Toby Rowe’s conversion.
Antrim began to display the qualities of a great team and after 10 minutes they added a second following a great team move. From half way, Antrim worked the ball through the hand from one side of the pitch to the other and after a great draw and give from David McKee, allowed David Thompson make a fantastic catch and finish into the corner as Antrim took a 12-0 lead.
Antrim were on the charge and more excellent work from David McKee, sent a cross field kick deep into Malone territory with Matthew Webb and David Thompson on the chase. Webb did well to retrieve possession and was unfortunate to get caught by a last ditch Malone tackle but excellently popped it up to Thompson, on his shoulder to crash over, after sidestepping his opponent on the line. With Antrim’s lead now standing at 17-0, it looked like there would be more to come, as Malone struggled to cope with Antrim’s ability to move the ball with speed.
Antrim made further breaks from Darren Crooks on the kick off, but it took another great team play from one side of the pitch to the other, allowing Andrew Calvert to burst through again and send Neil Manson through for his second, outpacing the Malone defence as he waltzed to touch down between the posts for Antrim’s fourth.
Antrim went into the half time break with a 22-0 lead, after an excellent display of counter attacking rugby when in possession. Antrim rang the changes with David McKee coming off and Jack Dempster coming on in his place
Antrim started the second half as they started the first half, right in the Malone 22 metre, following a good mazy run through the middle from Jack Dempster. The next phase sent John Bull through on a strong run to crash over the line as Antrim now stormed into a 27-0 lead.
Antrim’s forwards were excellent and worked their socks off throughout the second half and moved the ball from left to right, stretching the Malone defence for Antrim’s backs to do the damage.
Antrim’s sixth try came from some excellent link up play between Toby Rowe and Ben Phelps. Rowe broke through the centre with Phelps in support and the pair linked well to allow Phelps to score, after sidestepping a few opponents and barging over the line from the 22metre. Rowe converted and Antrim were now cruising with a 34-0 lead.
Malone began to show too little too late and began to attack Antrim through some great rolling mauls. These were effective and the Malone pack were able to truck the ball toward the Antrim try line. Malone tried in vain to break Antrim’s pitch wide defence but the Antrim men held firm and were able to clear their lines through some good defensive kicking from Gary Walker and Toby Rowe. Again Malone came at Antrim and some excellent work from the whole team kept them at bay, with special mention to Martin Barr, Matthew Webb and Ben Phelps who worked their socks off in defence.
Malone began to tire and Antrim regrouped and added their seventh of the day. Neil Manson received the ball on the right wing and ran to the left wing shirking tackles and setting David Thompson free to outpace the Malone defence and score between the posts for his hat trick try. Antrim now lead 41-0 after a Rowe conversion and 5 minutes left on the clock.
As the game drew to a close, John Bull added his second and Antrim’s eighth of the day following an excellent training ground backs move that paid off once again today. With Rowe missing the conversion, Antrim ended the game, defeating their opponents 46-0.
Coach Smyth was delighted with Antrim’s pressure in defence and their counter attacking rugby when gaining possession. He pointed out that the boys had took everything from the training ground and applied it when working the ball from side to side, until gaps opened in the Malone defence. A proud Smyth remarked that this was a complete team performance from his boys and every player, worked their socks off. Special mention went to Martin Barr, Jason Vaughan and Darren Crooks for their work in the pack. Smyth awarded the club’s MB Hire Man of the Match award to David Thompson for his fine display of finishing on the wing, including a hat trick!
Antrim’s next fixture is on 4th January 2014 in the McCambley Cup Second round.
