Cookstown secure McCambley Cup Final Berth
On Saturday 22 March the Time Bar + Venue sponsored Cookstown RFC defeated an experienced Ballynahinch side to reach the final of the McCambley Cup. All roads now lead to Ravenhill (hopefully) on 26 April as the side now take on Limavady.
Playing into a stiff breeze Cookstown dominated the first half exchanges by running in three unanswered trys. However the first scores of the day did come from the boots of the respective team kickers; the Hinch out half impressively slotted the ball over the bar from the halfway line following some Cookstown indiscipline at the breakdown. Cookstown responded in kind via Paul O’Neill in front of the Hinch posts five minutes later.
The game’s first try came as a result of a fine midfield break from No. 8 JP Reah. The ball was recycled twice and inter-passing between backs and forwards allowed centre Kevin Nugent to touch down in the corner. The try was converted.
The second try came about as a result of driven lineout by the Cookstown Pack, prop forward Owen Mallon getting the touch down, again Paul O’Neill converting.
The final score of the half came as a result of some excellent pressure defence from the home team which led to the away side conceding possession in their own 22. The ball went through a number of phases before being passed out to winger Stephen McKenna who outpaced the covering defence to score in the corner. The conversion missed. Halftime: Cookstown 22 Hinch 3.
Playing with the breeze Cookstown were expected to push further ahead however the Hinch deployed an aggressive pick and-go-game plan thus starving Cookstown of any decent ball supply. The half started ominously as Cookstown conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown and conceded two early trys, however only one was converted. Score 22-15.
Cookstown relied on some deep kicking in order to get into the Hinch 22. One such forage saw out half Ciaran Currie kick a long distance drop goal to give his side some breathing space.
The Hinch pressure was relentless for most of the second half and Cookstown repeatedly fell foul of the referee which resulted in three men seeing yellow cards. So there was relief all round as the final whistle went with Cookstown holding out for a ten point victory.
The club would like to thank Mr Jonny Finch of A29 Service Station Cookstown for sponsorship of the game, the sizeable crowd for coming out to support the players, Daron Patterson for his coverage of the game and Time for hosting the post game reception.
Team: Mckeown, Nugent, Nugent, McKenna, McKenna, Currie, Currie, O’Neill, Rea, Mallon, Weir, Jaafar, Stinson, Brown, Moore, Devlin, Stewart, Boone, McLoughlin.
The Club’s next game is at home to Banbridge on Saturday 29 March. Kick-off 2:30pm, all support welcome.
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