Colts win against Ophir
Off the back of the narrow defeat to Ards last week the Colts welcomed Ophir to Stormont today.
Unfortunately Ophir arrived short numbered. Credit is due to the visitors for fulfilling the fixture and credit is due to the Civil Service 21 who gamely took turns in donning the Ophir jersey to allow everyone a game. It was agreed to play 3 x 20 minute sessions and effort was made to evenly balance the teams to make the development session worthwhile for all.
The first period was nip and tuck, with the home players who were wearing Ophir jerseys prominent. A useful exercise indeed for our own players to play against us. The first score came in the 15th minute with Matt Wilson crossing the line, with the conversion by Andrew Lilburn. 7-0. Just before the end of the period Jack McLaughlin dived over in the corner, conversion missed. 1st interval score, Civil Service Colts 12, Ophir 0.
Multiple substitutions took place before the 2nd period.
Second period commenced, and saw the Colts crank up the pressure with Jason Featherstone score his first try for the club and additional tries by Conor Ellson and Matthew “can’t stop scoring” Rice. Andrew Lilburn successfully converted 2 of the 3 tries, 2nd interval score, Civil Service Colts 31, Ophir 0.
Multiple substitutions again followed.
In the 3rd period the Colts scored a further 4 tries. Jack McDowell scored first. Matt Wilson then unbelievably ran three quarters of the length of the pitch to score in the corner, there was much debate on the touchline as to whether he had the puff to make it (and quite a lot of time to discuss it), but pleasingly he did, though didn’t manage to bring the score infield to make the conversion attempt easier. Johnny Kennedy had been unlucky to be stopped short a couple of times earlier in the match but in the 56th minute scored the try of the game with the ball passing through the hands of the Colts backline and Johnny breaking tackles to crash over to score under the posts. Literally straight from the restart Johnny Kennedy gathered the ball and broke through the defence to score again, the final points of the match.
Final score, Civil Service Colts 51, Ophir 0.
On a bitterly cold morning with player loans this was a good workout. 8 different players got their names on the scoresheet; the vast majority of the points came from multiple phases which reflected the hard work of the team.
We were pleased to welcome “Borneo” back as referee. He explained his decisions to the players as he made them, which helped them not repeat the same infringements. The light was dull but with “Borneo” wearing bright yellow lycra, visibility was still good. Indeed, some spectators wore sunglasses !
Try of the match – Johnny Kennedy’s 1st.
Blooper of the match – Luke Johnston – broke tackles, made space running for the corner, cut inside to score under the posts and dropped the ball. If we’d had a camcorder we could have filmed it and sent it into a tv show and maybe won a few £.
Man of the match – the squad (for taking it in turns to play for the visitors to get everyone a game).
Query of the match – why when Andrew Lilburn took his conversion attempts did the Ophir supporter bring our kicking tee onto the pitch for him every time ?
Good work guys, and see you next week.
