1st XV lose 18-20 at Boyne in All Ireland League
For the majority of this game Instonians performed at a higher level than their previous outing when they lost to Banbridge in the senior cup.
During those moments the scrum dominated the bigger Boyne pack until eventually Boyne lost two props and the scrum became “uncontested!!!” The lineout was also a source of good 1st phase ball from which we mauled well. When we managed to hold onto the ball and go through the phases we gained ground. First up tackles were also better.
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Those were the good phases of the game, during which we scored 3 tries and slotted one penalty.
However we managed to lose the match due to our bad patches of play. During these we gifted Boyne two identical converted tries from speculative kicks that bounced badly in our try line to be pounced on by the Boyne chaser. The other Boyne points came from penalties after we had given them field position.
At the final whistle Boyne knew that they had been gifted a win and Instonians knew they had been the givers!!
The task is to take the many positives and do them for eighty minutes and cut out the poor phases and execution.
The sequence of events:
1st Half – when Instonians played with a strong wind behind them:
Boyne started the better playing with composure into the strong wind.
Instonians eventually got going and had a kick able penalty in front of the posts – Missed!!
Instonians had first fantastic maul of the season. own 22 to halfway, pulled down by Boyne, Boyne player yellow carded.
Instonians lineout, moved right then left, even Fegan passed the ball, as eventually Josh Atkinson showed his pace and scored in the corner (5-0)
Another good Instonian attack, only for Josh Atkinson to spill the ball over the line.
Instonian penalty as ref reversed his decision after Instonian player (Lewis Jones) had been pinned for late tackle. The Boyne fullback said to much. So close in even we could not miss (8-0)
More inst pressure but ran out of time.
Half-time up 8-0, not enough with that wind behind us.
2nd half – now Boyne had the strong wind behind them:
Boyne penalty, missed but we fumbled behind the posts to give Boyne the five yard scrum.
Instonians dominated the scrums until 2nd Boyne prop left the field and scrums became uncontested.
First Boyne try gifted by Instonians, speculative kick beyond our line bounced badly, missed by Nico Andress and into path of Boyne chasing winger. Converted (8-7)
Boyne penalty after we went over the top at ruck, fullback slotted it. (8-10)
Inst mauled well into the wind, but held up over the line.
Second Boyne try, exact repeat of the first but this time it was replacement scrum-half Matthew Keane who missed the badly bouncing ball behind our lines. Converted (8-17)
More Instonian pressure gave us a kickable penalty, missed!!
Instonian maul now causing havoc, one finished when we knocked on over the line, next one resulted in Boyne player being yellow carded.
Matthew Keane break gave us field position, then a penalty, kick to corner, lineout, maul, try easy!! Scored by Peter Stewart. (13-17)
After 4 O’clock and still playing, Boyne nervous.
Boyne penalty after Alan Whitten caught on his own at a ruck. Slotted (13-20)
Good Instonian restart, won penalty in front of their posts, moved the ball from uncontested scrum for out-half Ryan Aperehama to ghost through defence to score in corner (18-20)
Time ran out and Boyne breathed a “Sigh of relief!!”
Match lost 18-20, did not do enough with the wind, missed kickable penalties and gifted two tries.
However massive signs of improvement.
Next match is sat 2nd November, Greystones at home.
Big match and big support wanted, as we had at the last home game.
Team 1 to 20: Harry Martin, Paddy Bell, Josh Cregan, Peter Stewart, Lewis Jones, Paddy Marks, Josh Atkinson, Andy McKeen, Conor Young, Ryan Aperehama, Matthew McClelland, Robbie Kirk, Richard Fegan, Matthew Kilpatrick, Nico Andress, Alan Whitten, James Carruthers, James La Broy, Ben Scott, Matthew Keane
