Holywood 1st XV got their league campaign underway last Saturday when they entertained Randalstown at Holywood. Both sides had put a lot of work into their respective pre-season training and with the weather set to be fine and sunny the good crowd settled back to enjoy what turned out to be a fascinating duel.
Randalstown kicked off with the sun and wind at their back and immediately went on the attack. Within two minutes Holywood had conceded a needless penalty in front of their own posts and Randalstown willingly snapped up the 3 points on offer to take the early lead.
This seemed to galvanise Holywood who, straight from the restart, took the game to Randalstown. On 8 minutes Holywood won ball just inside their own half and moved it wide to right winger Mike Silvester who set off on a mazy run along the touch line. He had made over 30 metres before he was hauled down just inside Randalstown’s 22 metre line but the subsequent ruck and run caught the Randalstown pack offside. Up stepped Stevie Leyland who slotted the penalty attempt from short range. Most spectators, and all of Randalstown, thought the attempt had drifted wide but the important person i.e. the referee thought otherwise and Holywood were back level at 3 -3.
Again the restart gave the adventurous Holywood players the chance to show off their skills with ball in hand. A scintillating passage of play that involved a break by Jamie White and great support from Matt Mullan and Ivan DePledge took play deep into Randalstown territory. By now the Holywood pack were starting to assert their authority on the game and it was only a matter of time before that pressure was turned into points.
On 15 minutes a pin point throw by Cormac Smyth at the lineout gave Holywood the chance to set up a series of rucks that eventually led to Ivan DePledge bursting over the line from all of 15 metres to score. Stevie Leyland added the extras and Holywood deservedly found themselves 10 – 3 ahead.
Holywood seemed to take their foot off the gas after that and allowed Randalstown to have some ball to play with. It was only a matter of time before they turned that possession into points and on 33 minutes quick lineout ball allowed the visitor’s backs to crash over in midfield to score. The easy conversion left the score deadlocked again at 10 – 10.
The score gave the impetus to Randalstown who finished the first half on the attack. A charged down kick which was caught and grounded behind Holywood’s posts led to the baffling refereeing decision of the afternoon when the visitors were awarded a 5 metre scrum. Holywood’s line was not to be breached and the defence stood up strong and held out until half time.
Holywood kicked off the second half and shaded both possession and position for the first fifteen minutes of the half. Indiscipline at a ruck underneath Randalstown’s posts led to the ref giving Angus White a ten minute rest. His departure on the back of the yellow card was unfortunate because he had been having a fine game up to then and even by his own admission had made two tackles!
Now reduced to 14 men and with skipper Stevie Glover taking over as scrum half Holywood started to advance menacingly up the pitch. An attempted clearance to touch by Randalstown was kept in play by an athletic leap by Matt Mullan at the half way line. The ball was scooped up by Jamie White who ran back at the defence. A quick ruck ball fed to Stevie Glover and a chip over the Randalstown pack led to the opposition full back getting the ball and Holywood players at the same time. The ball was turned over in Holywood’s favour and a short break around the blind side saw Keith Griffin feed Johnny Elliot who skipped over the line to score. Stevie Leyland made the conversion and Holywood were back in front at 17 – 10.
On 27 minutes the game took another twist whenever an unsighted Randalstown touch judge missed seeing a ball cross the touch line before being picked up again and run in over Holywood’s line for a converted score to take the game back to all square at 17 – 17. It was an unfortunate breakaway thee length of the pitch and it seemed to knock the heart out of the Holywood side who were beginning to wonder what they had to do to win the game.
Despite that Holywood finished the game the stronger side but on a day when Randalstown had brought their A defence and Holywood lacked the killer punch to turn their possession into points a draw was almost inevitable. Holywood can be proud of the quality of rugby that they delivered to the decent sized crowd watching and there were certainly more positives than negatives for the coach and backroom staff to work with. Man of the Match went to Angus White for his all round display and non stop guidance of the pack.
NOTES
This week the firsts entertain Lurgan in the first of their round robin Gordon West Cup ties at Kerr Park with a 2.30pm kick off. The seconds start their season long tour of the far flung corners of the rugby empire with an away trip to Monaghan whilst the thirds welcome Grosvenor for a league game at Spafield.
A date for the social diary is 2nd October when live rock band, “SECOND FLOOR SCANDAL” will be playing at the Club. Admission will be £5 only and all proceeds are being very kindly donated to the Cancer Care Bridgewater Suite in the City Hospital and Marie Curie Cancer Care. These are charities close to many of our hearts so let’s ensure that this event is well supported!
