Lurgan are almost sure of qualification to the quarter finals of the Gordon West league cup following last Saturday’s final group games in group C, Writes Paddy Allen.
Having won comfortably and scoring four tries in the process Lurgan will have to wait on an Ulster Branch decision following group C’s other clash between Holywood and PSNI.
The game was abandoned after 55 minutes with the referee having pulled a hamstring with Holywood winning 5 – nil at the time. There is a cut off time when enough game time is played and the result stands but we will have to wait and see what decision the branch will make.
Over 50 photos here thanks to Lurgan RFC . – CLICK HERE To View.
If the result stands Holywood will top the group with Lurgan finishing second and both sides will progress to the quarter finals on Saturday February 19, 2011.
Lurgan had to play with 14 men after 15 minutes when influential centre Scott Gardiner had to leave the pitch with what turned out to be a broken nose which saw the home side having to reshuffle the backline.
The home side had built up a 13 – 3 lead at the break. The first score coming in the 26th minute from a 47 meter Stephen Nolan penalty and the same player also added a touchline conversion to scrum half Chris Jenks try after 35 minutes. The visitors replied with a 37th minute’s penalty before Nolan restored his side’s 10 point lead with a 35 meter penalty effort five minutes into first half injury time.
With the second half less than two minutes old the visitors found themselves down to 14 men when their centre found himself lucky to be given just a yellow card following a spear tackle on Lurgan number 8 Keith McBride. The Lurgan back row player was lucky not to be seriously injured and went on to play a crucial part in Lurgan’s victory.
Civil Service also lost one of their second rows to a back injury and Lurgan took advantage of this when McBride powered his way over after 50 minutes with Nolan again adding an excellent conversion for a 20 – 3 lead.
Lurgan’s man of the match winger Jonathan Kingham side stepped his way over the line for his first try of the season following a fine run of play from the home side that started in their own 22 before Kingham crossed the line in the left hand corner and running round to make the extra’s easier for Nolan as Lurgan moved 27 – 3 ahead.
Another player had to leave the pitch with 12 minutes to go as Lurgan second row Danny Reid was forced off with a shoulder injury. Eight minutes from time McBride again finished off another fine move for his second of the afternoon in the right hand corner although this time Nolan failed to add the conversion pushing it passed the left hand upright. Nolan finished with five kicks from six attempts and in fine form the boot this season having slotted over 18 kicks from 20 attempts.
Service did have the last say when their winger went over in the corner for a consolation try with the final play of the game to leave Lurgan comfortable 32 – 8 victors.
Lurgan team: R Clarke, J Kingham, D Swift, S Gardiner, C Wamsley; S Nolan, C Jenks; G Currie (Capt), J Kane, A Mackey, D Reid, C Mallon, M Campbell, J Pedlow, K McBride.
Monaghan league test awaits Lurgan
Lurgan return to Kukri Qualifying three A action this Saturday with a difficult trip to face Monaghan. Having received a number of injuries on Saturday will surely give the selection committee a headache ahead of Saturday’s trip to Monaghan.
Lurgan sit in joint second having one won (23 – 17 vs Cavan) and lost narrowly (16 – 18 vs Londonderry YM) after two games while Monaghan have two wins from three games and sit joint top of Kukri Qualifying three A alongside Letterkenny.
Fixtures for Saturday 30th October:
This coming Saturday see’s both the 1st XV and 2nd XV travelling to Monaghan. The club are in the process of organising a bus to the match. It will be leaving Pollock Park at 11:45am SHARP. More details to follow later in the week on the club’s facebook page ‘Lurgan Rugby 1880’.
Kukri Qualifying three
Monaghan vs Lurgan @ Rafeenan Park, Monaghan, kick off 2:30pm
Magners Junior League Section Five
Monaghan II vs Lurgan II @ Rafeenan Park, Monaghan, kick off 2:30pm
