Friends Lisburn Lose out to MCB in Fourth Round Medallion Shield
These two Medallion sides had met twice earlier in the season with MCB coming out winners, but only in the last play on both occasions and just by the narrowest of margins.
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The large crowd of supporters from both schools added to the atmosphere on this windy and cold morning and maybe the anticipation of a home win and such a large crowd made the home side a bit nervous.
Friends played into a strong wind and MCB had the kick off. Friends failed to secure the ball and this started an eight minute spell where MCB retained to ball and kept attacking the Friends defence but with not much return, it was not until a slip by a player in defence that MCB scored an unconverted try, 0-5.
MCB fielded the ball from the restart and worked their way back into Friends half. Friends managed to turn the visitors over a number of times but unable to kick out of their half with the wind making MCB’s defence easier. The visitors managed to steal a Friends line-out and again went about retaining the ball, they did pass out a number of occasions to their deep running back line but could not penetrate Friends defence.
The constant defending by the home team was soon to see another mistake which MCB were able to take an advantage from and score another unconverted try, 0-10.
The second half looked as if it was to finish well for Friends. There pack took control of the ball and with good handling and use of the backline Friends made their way from their own 5 metre line to just inside MCB’s 22 metre line. The visitors were forced to give a penalty to prevent a score but there was not time for Friends to use their functioning line out and a kick at goal was taken but pulled wide of the posts, Half time 0-10.
A good halftime talk saw Friends start strong forcing MCB well into their own half, a couple of try scoring opportunities arose but Friends just couldn’t finish these off.
It was not long until the visitors gave a penalty away on the halfway and Friends produced the try of the match, their 9, Ben McCaughey had an excellent kick to the cornor landing just the right side of the corner flag, a strong lineout saw clean possession and quick ball out to the Friends 10, George Pringle, who had been giving a man of the match performance, he forced his way through the visitors defence and with stretched arm scored a try under the posts, converted by McCaughey the score was now 7-10.
MCB were not to lie down at this and again went back to their play of just retaining ball and again it came down to a home side mistake that saw them score a converted try late on in the second half, 7-17.
Friends put pressure back onto the visitors straight away but a turn over by MCB and a missed forward pass saw them get in behind Friends defence line, the chasing players managed to force the Methody player out wide but he still managed the score which was unconverted, 7-22 at full time.
This was a very competitive game and but for a few mistakes could have gone the other way, Methody capitalised on these but with so much possession maybe should have created other scores. Friends were visibly tired from defending most of the first 30 minutes and maybe this is what turned the day.
The hardest workers on the pitch had to be the small band of helpers who spent over an hour before kick off ensuring all the ice that had formed over part of the pitch was cleared.
Good luck to MCB in the quarter final of the Sheild where they play Campbell College and to Friends Lisburn as they play Bangor away in the Plate quarter final
