On Saturday 22nd March Larne 3s hosted UUC 3s in the semi-final of the Butler Shield. Larne finished the game 20-10 winners.
Despite the home advantage, Larne faced a tough prospect in UUC who sit in a similar league position in East 1. The determination to get to the final was obvious in the Larne camp as they disregarded their usual slow start to hit the visitors hard right from the start.
As Larne hammered away at UUC with their big runners Jones, Rea and Gilbert the opposition defence stood firm. Centres Rennix and McWhirter also were thwarted in their attempts to breach the back line.
But just as effective was the Larne defence as they repelled each UUC attack. Larne were the first to find a chink in the armour. Jones crashing the ball up from the back of a ruck put the visitors on the back foot, popping the ball to Marshall who feigned the pass out the line (he’s obviously been studying S. Johnston) and slipped through the back line to score on the left wing.
UUC came back immediately, running phase after phase to plunge deep into the home side’s half. Just as the defence seemed to regain control and force the invaders out a subtle inside ball off from a ruck allowed the university lads in to even the score at 5-5.
Larne regrouped, regained their composure and went straight back into assaulting the UUC line. After several attempts were held up or turned over by stalwart defending the Glynn looked to Marshall for another moment of brilliance. And deliver he did with another feigned pass out the line he popped it back inside to Aston who used his speed and strength to crash over the try line to add another 5 points. Acting captain O’Toole took up the mantle of goal kicker and slotted over another 2 points for the conversion.
As the sun took a rest and the rain and hail battered both sides, they continued to trade tackles and turnovers as each team fought to get another score before the end of the half but nothing was forthcoming for either side and the half ended in the home side favour 12-5.
The second began much like the first as the sun made a welcome return. Both sides continued to give no quarter and more great tackling in the backs from R. Johnston, Marshall and Murray kept the visitors at bay. Hagans and J. Johnston making massive hits off lineouts and rucks gave Larne much needed turnovers and drained the moral of the opposition.
Unfortunately Larne’s discipline started to wane and hands in the ruck gave UUC the opportunity to kick for position from the resulting penalties. A further blow was delivered when Rea was yellow carded for hands in the ruck. Now down to 14, Larne dug in deep and UUC faced the full force of Fortress Glynn.
A colossal effort in defence not only saw the home side deny the visitors any points but had Murray sprint down the left wing and score another try. As the 10 minutes for the yellow card elapsed, Reid came on for Rea and S. Johnston replaced McCann, both with big shoes to fill. These fresh legs caused havoc for the visitors with more crunching tackles and crash balls.
Another foray into the opposition half set an attacking platform in the middle of the pitch. Outhalf Aston decided to shake things up a little and made and attempt at a drop goal. The referee seemed happy with the kick and awarded the 3 points and the many supporters on the touch line roared their approval.
Larne made their final substitution to bring on Shirley for Murray. With control now seemingly in the home camp, Larne started to turn the screw. Time and again they held UUC in their own half, increasing the pressure and forcing the opposition to defend with everything they had.
In lapse of concentration, UUC recovered the ball and their centre broke down the wing beating all the backs for pace and scoring on the right wing as the visitors pulled 5 points back.
Angry with this slip up, each player stepped up their game and each hit Larne made was bigger than the one before. The game ended with 2 of the biggest tackles of the game as Aston and Rennix blitzed up and stopped the attackers dead in their tracks and forcing the knock on, ending the game at 20-10.
As many of the supporters on the side line agreed, this was a thoroughly thrilling game. The whole team should proud of their performance and they played fantastic rugby. Thanks to UUC who also played a great game and to all those who came out to watch the 3s, the support was phenomenal.
Line-up: D. Hagans, J. Johnston, D. McCann, W. Rea, M. Gilbert, S. McDowell, S. McAllister, R. Jones, J. O’Toole, R. Johnston, C. Aston, S. McWhirter, G. Rennix, I. Railton, S. Marshall, S. Johnston, A. Murray, J. Shirley, P. Reid
