Following on their victory at Ballynahinch last weekend. ‘Skins faced a tricky home game against
Randalstown on Saturday. In the away fixture Randalstown had the better of things and were unfortunate
not to secure full points.
In the first half ‘Skins again had trouble putting phases together against a very physical visiting side, and they
made the mistake of lying off the ball-carrier which allowed Randalstown to make good yardage when they
had the ball, but much of the play took place between the respective ten-yard lines.
‘Skins opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty from McVitty from some distance, but the visitors had
the better of the next ten minutes as they secured a territorial advantage. Randalstown then scored a well
deserved try after they moved the ball off a scrum and carried the move on with a determined surge to the
line. ‘Skins did come back to retake the lead with two penalties but the closing minutes of the half belonged
to the Co Antrim side and in truth they were unlucky not to score a further try.
In the second half Skins improved their gameplan and sought to play the match in the Randalstown half.
They also stepped up the power and physicality in the scrums with Quigley, Cathcart and Foster to the fore.
Having established the power in the forwards ‘Skins attacked the Randalstown defence out wide and put
together a phase of play which ended in Foster going over for a well-worked try to make the score 14 – 5.
With the platform established, ‘Skins forwards, with Parke and Quigley particularly impressive, carried more
aggressively and the next score came from forward pressure, ended when McVitty dropped a goal.
At this stage the play was all in the visitors’ half and Parke almost increased the lead with a fine run only to
be stopped short. Murray then added a further try, followed closely by Roofe to leave the final score 27 – 5.
‘Skins were forced to work very hard for this win against a very committed and well-coached team. In the run
in to the end of the season it is vital that the team remain focussed on the next game and if they can maintain
their level of performance then what has already been a good season could turn out even better
