Antrim run in 11 tries over Hollywood 3s at Allen Park on Saturday. The Antrim team had to call upon old and new players to for fill the pack ahead of the game on Saturday and welcomed the return of late 40s Billy smith AKA (Billy bunter) and son William smith AKA (Billy the kid).
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From a strong win against Carrick, Antrim had to gel quickly with several changes and with an inspiring speech from captain Darren Crooks who managed to stay on the pitch for the full 80 minutes this week saw the Antrim pack starting the game with all guns blazing and received a penalty just 1 minute into the game saw the return of Richard Manson to call for posts on the Hollywood 10 meter line and 10 meters from the touch line slotted it home to give Antrim a 3-0 lead.
With the Lads all fired up it took just 3 minutes before Antrim were on the score sheet once again with great movement of the ball saw the Antrim winger beat two Hollywood defenders down the touch line and score under the posts and converted giving Antrim a 10-0 lead.
From the restart Antrim carried over from were they started and worked their way up the pitch breaking down the defence and opening holes in the Hollywood back line and saw Neil Manson stopped just short of the line but the Antrim pack were their in numbers and spread the ball wide for Craig McIvor to side across in the corner which went unconverted giving Antrim A 15-0.
Hollywood gathered themselves and from the restart saw them up their game and moved the ball well and were soon putting pressure on the Antrim defence but Antrim stood strong and stop every move the Hollywood pack and back line through at them.
With Hollywood coming away with no points Antrim piled the pressure on splitting the Hollywood defence in two and gained a penalty on the 10 meter line which was taken quickie by Richard Manson how offloaded to Dave McKee who broke through several tackles and scored in the corner which went unconverted making it 20-0.
With half time looming Antrim took their foot off the pedal from the restart and allowed Hollywood to make their way into the Antrim half and soon worked their way up to Antrim’s 22 and were awarded with a penalty which was converted and brought an end to the first half with Antrim lead 20-3.
The second half saw Antrim making a change with Dan Phelps replacing Conner who had a great first half. It was Hollywood to restart the game and from the off Antrim worked the ball with great team cohesion between the forwards and backs and soon saw Steve Cairns push his way over the Hollywood try line but we don’t know why he was standing on the wing, the try went unconverted and the score at 25-3.
For the next 15 minutes Antrim and Hollywood stood their ground and play switched back and forth before Antrim broke through once more sending Ben down the wing to score in the corner unconverted taking the score to 30-3.
Antrim didn’t take their foot of the gas this time and were soon back in the Hollywood 22 and with the forwards moving the ball at will, saw Hollywood under a lot of pressure. The Hollywood scrumhalf then left the field with an injury, leaving 14 on the Hollywood side which Antrim made full use of and from the restart the forwards once more pushed on before the ball came out to the backs and saw Steve Cairns standing on the wing once again to score in the corner unconverted Antrim lead 35-3. Going into the last 20 minutes William Smith replaced Ricky Robb who broke anything that came his way during the game.
The restart saw Andy Chestnutt gather the ball and march his way up to the halfway line brushing off three or four tackles before offloading the ball to Gary Walker who sucked in his player and for the first time of the game give a good pass to Neil Manson who took the ball at full pace tearing a hole through the Hollywood line and ran in from the half way line to touch down under the posts and converted Antrim lead 42-3.
A mirror image of the previous kick saw Andy Chestnutt receive the ball and crash through once again and offloaded to Ben how came off his wing and scythed through the defensive line from the Antrim half and with only the fullback to beat and support on both sides he did a beautiful sidestep, to touch down under the posts and converted to score 49-3.
The Hollywood heads dropped but Antrim hadn’t finished and once again from the restart Darren Crooks carried the ball straight back at them breaking the line once more with the forwards working their pods to perfection and soon let lease to Richard Manson bashing his way through the tackles and offloading to Dave McKee for a 30 metre run in from which he converted and the score to 56-3.
It was like déjà vu within minutes from the restart with Darren crashing the ball up and creative carries from the pack saw Dave McKee break through touch down and converted brought the score to 63-3.
From the restart you could see that the Hollywood side were deflated and couldn’t cope with the constant waves of attacks from the Antrim Pack with a great run line from the Antrim winger cutting in field he offload to Neil Manson to break through and hand off the Hollywood fullback and slide in to score. Unconverted, it brought the game to an end with 5 minutes left to play and the final score of 68-3.
A very positive performance from every player saw Antrim the victors with 48 unanswered points in the second half, and a final score of Antrim 68 Hollywood 3. Although every player gave it his all, Man of the Match was awarded to Dave McKee.
