Antrim hosted PSNI in the first game back from the Christmas break on a Cold day at Allen Park. With Antrim finishing 2011 with a win it was time to keep things rolling forward. With the Antrim team back to full strength squad the lads knew what they had to do for the start of 2012.
From the kick off Antrim had the upper hand and tested the Psni pack and worked their way up the pitch with exultant recycling of the ball moving it from right to left and allowing the Antrim back to open up the Psni back line and push the Psni back to the 5 metre line from which Antrim capitalised with Cathal McSorly cashing over and converted by John bull give the home side a 7-0 lead. From the kick off it was long until Antrim were back in the Psni 22 and with a plenty in front of the posts Antrim opted to add 3 more points to the Score giving Antrim a 10-0 lead.
From the restart things slowed down with the Psni starting to come alive and saw Antrim giving away a plenty in front of the Antrim posts after some great play from the visiting team and reduced the score line to 10-3.
from the restart Antrim had to blow away the Christmas cobwebs and work once more has team and through some hard work from the pack saw Antrim receive e a plenty just inside the Psni half giving John bull the option to kick for touch giving Antrim a great attacking position just 10 meters from the Psni line and a well worked lineout saw Ian Moxen stopped just short of the line before Michael Duncan picked up to touch down unconverted Antrim widened the cap to 15-3.
Antrim looked like a different side from the restart with wave after wave of attack Antrim came close to adding more points to the board but the Psni Defence stood strong and managed to turn over the ball and kick for touch only for it to fall short to Ben Siri came back in field to set Eddie York on a blistering run and offload to Cathal McSorly to score in the corner unconverted Antrim now Lead 20-3 and brought the end to the first half.
From the restart Antrim soon where back in control of the ball with the Antrim Pack turning the ball over from the kick off and moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other wearing down the Psni defence and before long where back in the Psni’s 22 and with the pack rolling forward in numbers left a gapping hole for John Bull to score in the corner converted Antrim now lead 27-3
From the restart Psni upped their game once more and soon found themselves in Antrim’s 22 pushing hard to close the gap running at the Antrim defence on every opportunity and were soon just meters from the line but the Antrim lads dug deep with a crashing move Psni crossed the line only for the Antrim Lads hold the ball up. This lifted the Psni Pack and on two more occasions they crossed the line only for it to be held up. It just wasn’t going to be their day and with the Antrim standing strong forced a turnover and Antrim cleared there line from some strong attacks from the visitors.
Antrim had to find another gear and a great box kick from Gary Walker saw Antrim in the Visitors 22 and from the line out the ball was shipped out to the backs taking the play to the opposite side of the pitch with the Antrim pack their in numbers the Psni were outnumbered giving Neil Manson the opportunity to break for the line and offload to Gary Smith to touch down in the corner converted Antrim lead 32-3
Antrim were on the up and pushed on to widen the gap even more with the backline breaking down the line and great support from the pack saw quick recycling of the ball sending Ben Siri past the Psni backline and touching down under the posts converted Antrim were in the driving seat with a 39-3 lead.
With Antrim in possession from the restart the ball was moved from left to right breaking down the visitors defence and the Antrim pack marched their way up the pitch and back in the Psni’s 22 the Antrim team were just meters from the line only for a handing error handed the ball back Psni. From the scrum the Antrim pack were quick to pouch putting pressure on the Psni backline and saw John Wright capitalising with an interception and scoring under the posts and Converted Antrim Lead 46-3 and brought an end to the first game of 2012
It was a very positive performance from every player saw Antrim on winning ways for the New Year, final score Antrim 46 PSNI 3. Although every player gave it his all, Man of the Match was awarded to Ian Moxen.
