Service To Claim Points Over PSNI
The PSNI were unable to field a team on Saturday so Service will be looking to secure the League points in due course.
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The 2s had announced a strong squad to travel to Newforge, but due to circumstances beyond their control, had to settle for a ‘walkover’ victory on the day.
Next week they’re at Home to Holywood 3s, so lets hope they can play next time.
Service 1st XV experienced a very difficult day at the hands of Holywood in the first round of The Gordon West Cup at Stormont on Saturday.
In a game that should have produced a much better response from the hosts than it did, Holywood showed why they were worthy winners of the Qualifying 4 League last season.
The game kicked off in front of a sizeable audience on a very balmy Autumn afternoon with both teams looking to probe and feel their way through their derby neighbours.
Early exchanges seemed fairly even when on 7 minutes, Holywood were the first to strike with the first converted try of the day.
Shaken, but not stirred, Service took the game back to the visitors only to gift them the easiest of tries a couple of minutes later with some sloppy defence.
Again Service rallied before Holywood secured their third try to go 21 points clear in the first half.
Service scrums and lineouts were under a considerable amount of pressure as the near neighbours sensed a rout was on the cards.
However one or two ‘local lads’ seemed to be reading from a different script and after some penetrating runs in the centre from Peter Hoskins and Chris Burns, Service were able to reload the ball in the forwards for Brendan Smith to barge his way over for the home side and score far out on the right touchline. A peach of a strike from the boot of Hoskins saw the conversion goaled and the game seemed to be back on.
Holywood however had a couple more gears to go through and ran in a few more tries in both halves without reply and come away as accomplished winners on the day.
Disappointing from a Service perspective in relation to performance but on the positive side, they finished off the stronger with good energy levels and Chris Burns unlucky not to score in the fading embers of the game.
Service could have and should have put in a much better shift on the day and hopefully with a bit of soul searching, any ‘problems’ can be resolved before their next outing away to Cavan in the League next Saturday.
Thanks are extended to all the home support and the refereeing official on the day.
