A big crowd at Belmont enjoyed a thrilling game of rugby on Saturday, played in the best of spirits, which saw CI emerge as deserving winners in a hard fought game.
Grosvenor started nervously and while they enjoyed an advantage in territory could not convert it into points as several chances went abegging. CI on the otherhand were more clinical in their finishing and from their only two meaningful forays into Grosvenor territory in the first half-hour emerged with ten points. Their first came from a well struck penalty which was quickly followed up by a converted try. This try really fired up CI and a depleted Grosvenor side with a man in the bin, had to repel wave after wave of attack. Despite some heroic efforts in defence the line was breached again just before the break with a try in the right hand corner. The CI outhalf then rubbed salt in with a superbly struck conversion from the touchline. HT 17-0.
124 Photos on slideshow of Grosvenor V CI, courtesy of Gleno Photos. Should anyone require a high resolution image simply E: georgedirvine@aol.com
Grosvenor started the second half in the worst possible way, losing out-half Simon Patterson with a shoulder injury. CI immediately capitalised with another try in the right hand corner following some desperate defence. The CI out-half again slotted over a superb conversion to make the score 24-0 with over thirty minutes to go and Grosvenor faced the prospect of a real hammering. But this young side showed great composure and character. They regrouped and began to take the game to a tiring CI team, with two stirring breaks by Jonny Dawson and Graeme Taylor bringing confidence back into the ranks.
Ryan Stewart and Gareth Montgomery linked well at the base of the scrum to create two great breaks up the right wing which brought a try for Jordan Millar, who burst through the centre and rounded the fullback. Taylor added the conversion 24-7. Grosvenor were now the livlier of the two sides and they began to build up the phases and move the ball wide through the hands. With ten minutes to go some excellent approach work by the forwards created a promising attacking platform. But the opportunity was missed when a penalty was conceded at an attacking five metre scrum. This allowed CI to clear the danger and the match petered out in midfield with a series of stoppages for injuries.
So those that had tried to build this event up into something other than a Qualifying 2 league match were proved wrong. The predictions of a bloodbath on the pitch and antagonism off it did not materialise and suggest that such thoughts, which belie the true sprit of rugby football, exist only in the minds of a few misguided individuals who perhaps need to get out more. And to round things off almost £300 was raised in donations by spectators for the IRFU Charitable Trust.
