After disappointing results for both sides last week, Randalstown 3s arrived at Civil Service determined to avoid a repeat of the heavy defeat they had suffered to Grosvenor and Service were keen to correct the mistakes that had seen them undone against Carrick. This task was not made easier by the loss of deputy captains Bryn Sturgeon and Greg Brown to the 1s and the continued absence through injury of regular Fly Half William Agnew, Captain Stevie Moore and player manager Aaron Thompson.
2 Video Clips and 63 pictures here from an excellent game.
Randalstown started the match brightly and took advantage of some poor concentration from Service and pinned them into their own 22. Service dug in deep and resisted the opposition pack well but Randalstown quickly changed the direction of the attack and spun the ball wide and bad missed tackle let the Randalstown left wing in for an simple score that was easily converted. The poor start for service was compounded when Prop Phil white had to leave the field with a rib injury after only 5 minutes.
63 Pictures slideshow here from Civil Servie II XV v Randalstown III XV – click here –
Service responded well to this early set back and began to dominate the territory and set pieces through some well supported forward play. This pressure translated into breaks from Stewart Ferguson and DJ Weir. However as the minutes counted down to the half time break Service could find no way through the heroic Randalstown defence and when the break finally came the effort form Jason Orderly was ruled as held up by the referee who struggled to see the grounding beneath the mass of bodies. Randalstown lead 7v0 at half time.
Video Clip here of Service II XV v Randalstown III XV – click here –
Service rotated their wingers at half time (bringing Brett Jones on to replace Charlie Sommer) and began the second half as they had finished the first with the Services pack dominating and making ground and two further efforts from the Service pack where disallowed disallowed.
Service finally scored when a crash ball taken and grounded in the corner by no.8 Jason Orderly. Unfortunately the ankle of the conversion proved to much for Neil Palmer
Video Clip here of Service II XV v Randalstown III XV – click here –
Randalstown however where not out of the game and fought back after possession was given away by service through a series of disappointing knock ons that was more akin to basketball than rugby.
Randalstown capitalised and distributed the ball to their backline but where pushed back from the Service line.
Deep in the second half Randalstown got a kickable penalty. The kick was a poor effort and service scrambled defence took possession and set up a ruck in their 22 ready to clear the lines, however as the Service scrumhalf attempted a box kick to clear the ball instead of finding the safety of touch it spiralled towards his own posts and was promptly caught by a Randalstown prop who easily powered over the line for a try to push Randalstown 12v5 in front.
Determined no to lose a game that they had so dominated Service set off into the Randalstown half with renewed purpose and Stewart Ferguson grounded the ball through a powerful burst that Randalstown could not contain. The try was converted leaving the score at 12 each.
With time running out Randalstown secured another kickable penalty that could have handed them the game. The kick went wide and service where let off the hook.
Randalstown went home with a well earned point with Service left wondering what they have to do to get a win but relieved that they hadn’t thrown it away in the last minute
2 Video Clips and 63 pictures here from an excellent game.
